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サクラ、サク。 [Sakura, Saku.] #4

サクラ、サク。 4 [Sakura, Saku. 4]

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琴乃も陽希のことが好きかもしれないと知り、動揺する咲。冷たい物言いの裏で、泣いているところを抱きしめて隠してくれた井竜の意外な優しさに触れた咲は、少しずつ心を許しはじめ…!?
キュンとして泣きたくなるリアル青春グラフィティ!

184 pages, Paperback

First published May 25, 2022

11 people are currently reading
167 people want to read

About the author

Io Sakisaka

91 books1,532 followers
Io Sakisaka (咲坂伊緒) is a Japanese manga artist. She also designed the characters for the anime movie HAL. Her works are:

-Call My Name (2001)
-Watashi no Koibito (2002)
-Bye-Bye, Little (2002)
-Blue (2006)
-Mascara Blues (2007)
-Strobe Edge (2007)
-Ao Haru Ride (2011)
-Sono Omokage o Shitteru (2013) (oneshot)
-Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare (2015)
-Otome no Itari (2020) (oneshot)
-Sakura, Saku (2021)

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5 stars
309 (46%)
4 stars
270 (40%)
3 stars
78 (11%)
2 stars
9 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
Profile Image for jess.
160 reviews2 followers
Read
October 24, 2022
wow a sapphic twist in a sakisaka io manga??!??! who would’ve thought!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Millie.
95 reviews
November 22, 2023
Mais wow le plot twist sur kotono ???? Je suis trop contente et aussi giga triste she's so me
Par contre je préfère que la mc soit avec le second choix
Profile Image for Raquel.
26 reviews
April 9, 2023
Qué dices… tiesa🧍🏻‍♀️

Cómo echaba de menos leer un buen shojo 😭😭😭
Profile Image for Mark.
2,804 reviews270 followers
August 15, 2024
Kotono is obviously using this fake dating ploy to get closer to Haruki and sneak off with Saku’s crush. But Saku is too nice to speak up, which annoys Iryu to no end. Now that summer’s here, just how tortured can this mess possibly get?

Well, damn.

Maybe I don’t hate the fake dating trope. Maybe, in fact, it’s fantastic. Well, I do and it’s not, but there’s no doubt in my mind that if this was how they were all being written my initial sentiments would be accurate.

This is just a work of art from somebody who is a master of this medium and it storms in with character depth and fantastic art and all the feels, not to mention some things you can see coming (the true rival appears and I already feel bad for him because he’s SO good) and some… not so much.

What happens when you’re the lead in a shojo manga and you’re not the person being fake dated? You become miserable and sullen, is what happens, and your decision to kill your desires over helping out a dear friend begins to gnaw away at you.

So, Saku is agonizing over everything and nobody knows because she can’t tell her friends since it involves them. There are points, especially when she’s trying to study, when she seems about one step away from a full on depressive episode. It’s not a story that goes easy on her, that’s for sure.

And that misery lets Iryu enter the picture, as he’s both very observant and very okay letting Saku know how stupid she’s being.

Iryu is way too tactless for his own good, but that’s also his nature to be as honest as he can be. He does not care for Saku’s choice to hide behind a lie rather than talk it out and he ends up being her only confidant while this goes on. This makes everybody suspicious of him, since he hauls her off from things that are hurting her, not realizing that they’re the problem. It’s delicious.

Iryu really grew on me this volume, like, a lot. He’s harsh, but it comes from a place of thinking that this would be a lot better to discuss than bury and, as it turns out, he’s absolutely correct. Plus, he functions perfectly as the audience surrogate recognizing just how ludicrous this concept is.

Meanwhile, Saku and Haruki are both missing one another very intently and stealing moments that are very sweet and very much not conducive to making this any easier on anybody. Which, naturally, means that something has to give.

It all comes to a head during a camping trip (after an amusing diss on the omnipresent manga beach scene) where the truth comes out and then another truth comes out that really makes it look like Kotono has been doing exactly what Saku feared all along.

But appearances can be so deceiving, no?

So sneaky. The twist here is actually sort of obvious, yet so perfectly obfuscated because it is unlike anything that Io Sakisaka has done before, which lets it come in out of nowhere and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t blindside me. And it makes total sense!

Oh, there’s wiggle room to avoid commitment to what is an astonishing change of pace, which I expect to be the escape route used later, but I wasn’t expecting this at all and in this isolated moment it’s a belter of a revelation. No, I don’t want the story to change focus (well, Iryu is kind of great…), but this was perfect.

We end with things moving forward again, some lessons learned, some secrets partially revealed, and the next speed bump already on the horizon. Every bit of this is wonderful and agonizing in the best way.

The justifications here make sense, nothing feels at all forced, and these characters have reasons and beliefs and the story is full of great moments from them all bouncing off one another. Friendship is not easy all the time and the story recognizes that, especially when more than friendship gets involved.

5 stars - earned and then some; this just floored me with the characterization and the way it handles one of the worst concepts ever. The wonderful little twist that caught me flat is just icing on an already perfect cake.
Profile Image for Ris Sasaki.
1,302 reviews190 followers
December 4, 2023
THIS IS THE SWEETEST THING THAT I'VE EVER READ ❤️❤️
Profile Image for elif sinem.
842 reviews83 followers
August 27, 2025
none of these trope exercises work because the tropes only work because something is at stake, something personal to them, even when the setting is usually school. this manga was dead from the get go but at least in this volume managed to wring out drama from its own mostly convoluted setups. seriously refuse to believe this entire "we pretend date so my ex gets off my dick" situation when the worst thing the ex did was cheating and not actually like, being abusive or whatever lol
Profile Image for Lesaffairesdelouise.
472 reviews94 followers
January 6, 2024
Désamorçage de ce que je n’aurai PAS DU TOUT aimé, c’est cool, beaucoup plus confiante dans la suite du coup !
Oh my d’ailleurs je commence à apprécier Iryu, oupsi.
Profile Image for Momorebooks.
38 reviews6 followers
January 17, 2024
Y a un truc que j’ai pas vu venir alors que BON
Sinon j’ai peur pour la suite mdr
Profile Image for Julie.
2,624 reviews197 followers
August 24, 2024
Gagged. I really liked this volume. I was getting a little nervous with how things would go with the friend. I'm still a little nervous, but I like the direction it's going in. Although I'm still confused by the whole fake dating thing and what the friend was trying to do. We're also starting to bring in the second love interest who doesn't have a chance as is custom in Io Sakisaka's works lol. I feel like I know how this will turn out, but I'm also wondering if Io Sakisaka will stray from the usual. Idk I'm enjoying it either way.

Side note: Is this Io Sakisaka's first bi character? I know it's a side character, but I got super excited about it. I hope there's a little more exploration with that.
Profile Image for Matoocute.
28 reviews
July 12, 2024
Je suis SI CONTENTE que Kotono ait développé des sentiments pour Saku. Ça fait du bien de voir un Shoujo qui n'a pas peur des relations queer - et vraiment, avec tout ce que Saku a fait pour et dit à Kotono, personne ne peut la blâmer d'avoir développé un crush. Même si je suis triste de la voir le coeur brisé, une fois de plus ...

De son côté, Sakura est toujours aussi entreprenant, et c'est toujours aussi plaisant à lire !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tachan.
2,599 reviews24 followers
November 20, 2023
Je vais être honnête, j’ai beau être fan de l’autrice, cette série peinait à me convaincre. Il y avait quelque chose qui ne sonnait pas juste. Alors quel plaisir de voir combien je m’étais trompée grâce à ce tome !

Je n’ai jamais été fan des triangles amoureux et depuis plusieurs tomes celui entre notre héroïne Saku, sa meilleure amie Kotono et l’objet de leur attention Haruki, m’agaçait. Je n’aimais pas trop la façon dont Kotono jouait de sa situation pour s’immiscer et tout compliquer. Ça me faisait de la peine pour Saku et ça me crispait. Mais avec malice, l’autrice va tout faire exploser ici, rebattant totalement les cartes. Chapeau !

Je salue dans un premier temps l’arrivée d’Iryû, personnage en soi assez antipathique, très différent de ceux qu’on croise chez l’autrice habituellement. Avec son franc parler à la limite de la blessure pour ceux qui se le prenne en face, il est rude. Mais en même temps, quel bon ami il fait ! Dans ce tome, il prend Saku sous son épaule et est là à chaque fois qu’elle a besoin, pour la protéger, cacher ses larmes, l’écouter, la conseiller. Alors oui, il peut être blessant mais il dit aussi des vérité et est là au bon moment. J’ai beaucoup aimé son originalité et la relation qui se noue entre lui et Saku, même si on voit bien vers quoi elle se dirige, quoique on n’est pas à une surprise près !

Tout le tome tourne autour des sentiments de Saku, non pas qu’elle n’arrive pas à avouer à Haruki, on n’en est pas là, mais qu’elle n’arrive pas à avouer à sa meilleure amie, car c’est là le coeur de l’histoire. L’autrice insiste sur les conséquences d’un mensonge ou d’un non aveu, combien ça peut peser et le drame de sans cesse y ajouter d’autres mensonges. C’est plutôt finement écrit derrière ses dehors archi classique de tensions entre amies et je ne crois pas l’avoir vu si souvent abordé de cette façon. J’ai donc beaucoup aimé. L’autrice m’a pris à contre-pied avec une apothéose dans les dernières pages quant à ce que chacune cachait vraiment. Excellent !

Io Sakisaka nous offre ainsi un tome plein de petites scènes trop mignonnes. Il y a des mises en scène sur les duos amicaux de l’histoire qui sont adorables. Et le rapprochement progressif d’Haruki vers Saku, à qui il tente maladroitement de montrer et faire comprendre ses sentiments est adorable de maladresse. Qu’est-ce que j’ai ri avec l’épisode de la tente, puis du banc en attendant le bus. Et qu’est-ce que c’était mignon quand il l’observait avec Iryû ou quand il cherchait à parler avec elle. Il est jeune, ça se sent, ça se voit, mais c’est rafraîchissant car peu d’autrices réussissent aussi bien à mettre en scène le point de vue du garçon comme ici.

Alors que je suivais la série surtout parce que c’est Io Sakisaka, ça y est je la suis parce que l’histoire me plaît. J’ai été agréablement surprise par l’écriture de la résolution d’un triangle amoureux qui m’agaçait avant. J’ai trouvé adorable l’ensemble des scènes mettant en scène amour et amitié. J’aime beaucoup la fraîcheur et la jeunesse des personnages. Ça y est, malgré quelques clichés, tout me plaît !

Avis complet : https://lesblablasdetachan.wordpress....
Profile Image for Brit.
252 reviews11 followers
September 27, 2024
Another volume from Io Sakisaka!! I think I’m enjoying this series more than her previous ones, though most of the time these series don’t offer much, but slice of life vibes with a lil romance. But anyways I’m forever obsessed with this mangaka’s art-style. And this volume was so surprising because the story was going in the direction of these two girl friends (Kimono & Saku) possibly crushing on the same guy (Haruki.) And one of the girls (Kimono) was already in a fake-dating scenario with Haruki to ward off their toxic ex-bf. And Saku was too nervous to tell Kimono her friend that she has a crush on him, and assumed that she may like him too. I was shook. I was expecting some real drama. But it turns out Kimono doesn’t actually have feelings for Haruki, but Saku!!

So a sapphic twist, like I was not expecting that. 😭 But it’s likely that Saku and Haruki relationship will thrive in this series. Regardless, I’m enjoyed it.
It’s cute and I look forward to seeing how it will continue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Eri &#x1f338;.
184 reviews4 followers
October 16, 2024
4.5 stars ⭐️

Omg gay plot twist in a shojou??? I did not see that coming at all!

I feel bad for the bestie Kotono but I’m so glad the author didn’t go with the plot of having the best friends fight over a guy. Their friendship is actually the best thing ever 😭

Saku and Sakura are still cute as ever, they’re so wholesome and their small moments are so 😣😣❤️

Looks like Iryu is starting to develop feelings for Saku which is probably gonna shake some things up in the future. He’s still a bit to blunt and brutish for my taste tho, so I’m curious to see if he’ll grow out of that as he discovers feelings

Overall, I’m liking the series more and more and I need my library to get these volumes in a little quicker 🙏
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for emma ⁠☆。⁠*⁠♡.
113 reviews8 followers
May 10, 2025
I CRIED!!!!!! I WAS RIGHT ABOUT KOTONO AND I CRIED. will I take iryu or mitoshi's advice in my own life?? I don't know. I wish I was a manga character so that I know that everything would be fun and silly in the end.

io sakisaka is such a fantastic writer and artist. I don't think I've ever liked a series so much. the characters are all so heartfelt. I love them so dearly.

also. my prediction for the next volume. I think perhaps iryu is also into saku,, which would be so crazy. saku is just the girl ever. everybody is in love with her.

I'm also sad because there's only one more volume for me to borrow from the library. I am however very committed to this series so I am willing to buy all of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for The Book Dragon.
2,515 reviews38 followers
August 31, 2024
Saku is burying her feelings because admitting to anyone in her friend group that she likes Haruki could spell disaster for her friend Kotono. But not saying anything is slowly eating her alive and potentially pushing Kotono and Haruki together.

So the whole group carries on, studying for exams and enjoying summer until something gives. And I don't want to say too much else because it might be a spoiler, but there's one character that might be part of the LGBT+. It doesn't specifically say it and I don't want to assume... but I'm getting the vibes.

We might be in for another love triangle soon.

This series has 9 volumes.
Profile Image for Xixi Turner.
113 reviews
January 1, 2026
❀.*
sakura, saku volume four was such a roller coaster ride. i was at the edge of my seat while reading. saku and kotono’s friendship prevails it’s always refreshing to see when characters communicate with each other i was hoping the girls would stay friends and they did! i was not expecting kotono’s secret that took me by surprise and also makes me feel for her. i knew i just knew kotono was a lovely character and i’m happy that she didn’t have any ill intentions toward saku.

i love how haruki is always thinkng about saku he’s so sweet and considerate of her and when he protected her from that creepy man my heart swooned.

i can’t get enough of this series onto the next volume! ♡
Profile Image for Marc.
1,548 reviews30 followers
December 25, 2024
Je crois que je comprends pourquoi je n’accroche que moyennement à cette série. Hormis la romance lycéenne, il ne se passe rien, on ne connaît pas les personnages, leur quotidien, leur famille, leurs centres d’intérêt ou passe-temps, etc. Du coup je trouve que c’est assez superficiel, pour moi l’histoire manque de passion.
Mais bon, je pense surtout que je ne suis pas la cible éditoriale et que je n’ai pas les mêmes attentes qu’une jeune lectrice qui découvre les romances ! 😅
En tout cas, c’est bien dommage car j’adore le style graphique de l’autrice.
Profile Image for Kristen.
851 reviews10 followers
January 13, 2025
4.5

My favorite volume so far!! Saku was being a little annoyingly passive in the beginning, but I'm glad she was called out for it and is trying to slowly change.



Profile Image for Happystar.
398 reviews
August 21, 2023
This manga series is slowly breaking my heart. I can’t take all this angst and cuteness. It’s been a while since a read a good shoujo romance that makes me feel this way. And bravo for some LBGTQ representation though that part made me kinda sad. I want Kotono to have her happy ending but I love the main couple so much as well. Ahhhhhhh

Profile Image for ℂ ✧.
2,420 reviews
September 29, 2023
Drama, drama i més drama, però he de reconèixer que estic living!!!!! ❤️ Gir inesperat perquè a la Kotono li agrada... . El final és el millor perquè també intuïm que l'Iruy sent alguna cosa per la Saku, però ves a saber...
Profile Image for Alice Doe.
74 reviews1 follower
November 27, 2023
Ce tome 4 montre que malgré les apparences des tomes précédents, Io Sakisaka nous délivre une histoire avec de nouveaux rebondissements qu'elle n'avait pas utilisé dans ses récits précédents ! J'ai hâte de lire la suite ! Et puis Sakisaka a le don de montrer que les garçons gentils sont les plus séduisants
Profile Image for Misshann.
184 reviews1 follower
March 2, 2024
iryuu kun is interesting enough.
i wonder if ryosuke kun would actually add anything to the story? his character is such a wasted potential……its like hes just … there.
and still HARUKI IS STILL BLAND AS EVER. no personality, DRY, i dont feel anything at all. not rooting for him. no development.
GIVE ME SOMETHING
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for RyNa.
186 reviews
April 2, 2024
Ce tome était tout simplement génial ! Iryu que j'aime d'amour, tellement sincère et honnête ! Et puis Kotono qui a fait un bond dans mon estime grâce à ce tome ❤️‍🔥! Saku est trop choupi et se prend vraiment la tête pour autrui et Haruki la gentillesse incarné ! J'espère que ça va continuer comme ça !
291 reviews3 followers
August 14, 2024
These kids were giving me anxiety lol

Yep. I love a good love triangle or love square. I also really love second male lead syndrome. Iryu is slowly becoming my favorite character. Volume 4 was good and it seems to be setting the stage for Saku and Haruki to get even closer! I'm hoping for more honest communication.
Profile Image for Kristin DeGarmo.
800 reviews1 follower
September 4, 2024
I wish I could read these volumes closer together because I forget what happened in the previous volume. I vaguely remember what happened though. I’m glad that Saku and Kotono don’t like the same guy. I’m pleasantly surprised that Kotono fell for Saku. I wonder how that’ll play out in future volumes. I wonder if the other guy likes Kotono though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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