แกล้งนัก รัก(แล้ว)นะรู้ยัง? เล่ม 4

からかい上手の（元）高木さん [Karakai Jōzu no (Moto) Takagi-san] #4

by Mifumi Inaba, Sōichirō Yamamoto

แม้จะผ่านมาหลายปี แต่การต่อสู้แห่งศักดิ์ศรี ที่ใคร ‘เขินอาย’ ก่อนแพ้ยังไม่จบ! วันๆ ของ “คุณพ่อ” กับ “จี้จัง” ลูกสาวสุดน่ารักแห่งครอบครัว “นิชิคาตะ” ที่ถูก “คุณแม่” ปั่นหัวไม่หยุดหย่อน เรื่องราวสปินออฟ จากซีรีส์ ‘แกล้งนัก รักนะ รู้ยัง?’ ที่จะมาอบอุ่นหัวใจคุณ!

Genres: Manga

160 pages, Paperback

Published August 24, 2021

Reviews

[Rowan Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

TLDR: Enjoyable, but a bit weaker than the previous 3 in my opinion. Probably a 3.5/5.

Longer Review: I read this series as a nice, light, enjoyable, slice of life read. I am not looking for an in-depth mystery and plot with this series. This volume offers a lot of reminders and call backs to the previous series (or original series?). If you read the previous series, these callbacks could be very rewarding for you, but if you are reading this series it may not be quite as enjoyable. Sometimes, the callbacks work wonders. I think there is a callback in the second half of the volume that works very well. However, some of the call backs do seem a little forced in my opinion and hurt the volume overall in my opinion. The second half of the volume is also a lot stronger in my opinion. I feel that Mifumi does an excellent job at writing Chi's interactions with the family, but has not quite gotten down the interactions between Nishikata and Takagi. It's not bad though, but I do think that it could be improved upon. The first half of the volume was weaker and may have gotten a 3/5 stars, or worse. However, the second half was quite stronger and really seemed to find its footing. I would give it a 4/5 star. In the end, I decided to go with a 3.5/5 which would round up to 4.
I think my main issue with Nishikata and Takagi's interactions are sometimes I feel like the author is writing as if it is a continuation of the original series. While this works occasionally, I feel that it works as an occasional callback. The reason I feel this way is: they're married now. Like they have a kid. To keep having these awkward interactions with your wife sometimes seems a bit jarring. I think it works really well when it works with Chi. It feels like they are working with Chi against the other and it seems more realistic and light-hearted. I think the story at the opening is a good example, chapter 41 entitled "Endure." The callback does feel a bit like fan service, but not so forced. I enjoy it overall. However, the following chapter, 42, entitled "Bento" is a bit weaker in my opinion and feels very forced. The callbacks don't seem to add to the story and seem a bit too much like fan service. However, I think chapters 49 and 51 actually work really well. 49, shoulder rub, has a nice playful competition that feels much more natural and no forced callbacks. Chapter 51, riding tandem, has some callbacks, but they feel a lot more natural. The callback isn't just a callback, but Nishikata actually realizing something from his past. This makes the callback work and a lot more organic in my opinion. The version I read was missing Chapter 50, entitled Mosquito.