"The long summer is finally at an end, and I've just realized that I don't have much time left as a college student."
With her job hunt concluded at last, Nobuko accepts a position in Ehime after graduation. Though she enjoys what little time remains of her college life with Hiroki and Fumi, she is constantly plagued with anxiety for the future. And as her graduation trip with Hiroki draws near, thoughts of doing "more than kissing" are on her mind, as well...
When they mentioned a graduation trip, I thought it was a class thing at first and wondered how the two of them ended up in charge of planning it. But no, they were celebrating together - how lovely.
I want them to speak to each other more - they both get so wrapped up trying to figure out what the other is thinking.
There is a scene during their trip where they learn to make a type of candy that was quite nice; I wonder if Nobuko realized how confident and maturely she responded in assistance of that other young woman.
The sweetness continues. They better end up married by the end of this series!
We got to see the worries Nobuko has about her future and how it will change her life and relationships. She’s still loveable clumsy and endearingly earnest. I wonder how her romantic relationship will develop - kinda refreshing to have an insight to a long term relationship that doesn’t involve sex and the worries that can come with that as it’s not the norm. Excited for vol 13!
Loved this as I’ve loved all of these. I was really happy to move past the ending of volume 11, which left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. I was excited for the main Nobuko/Hiroki relationship, but what really worked for me was the Nobuko/Fumi rehash of how they felt about graduating and their respective job hunts, and the pending changes to their lives and friendship.
It was hard having this volume end so quickly when there isn’t another to immediately follow like there was with the first 10, but it was so nice to have this one when I’d originally thought the series ended at 11 volumes that I’m more excited by the idea of an eventual 13th volume than I am disappointed at the brevity of each.
On a sort of meta level, I also loved the insertion of manga into manga. Very clever.
Just two great characters that is just so sweet caring and awkward but perfect. How they spent their third Christmas together by a surprise spicy it up invitation. How he doesn't mind going this slow and how being with her is more important then anything else. Which is so sweet ..... But she thinks he might be bored but he isn't. They are just so sweet... Then how they pick up the trip for graduation and how they respect for each other and support for each other. I just can't wait to read more...
I have to say it again, the communication and compassion in this manga is strong among the characters.
I can see that Irie wants to do more with Tanaka but she isn’t quite ready yet, but I’m glad he’s respecting that. Although, I know he’s trying to keep it in.
I am finally getting back to this series after I binged the first 11 volumes when that was all that was out at the time. It took me a minute to get back into it...but once I found my footing again it was like being back with old friends. This couple is SO awkward and completely relatable. But this series is the ultimate definition of slow burn. Super sweet...but VERY slow.
I have so many screenshots from this manga. Nobuko and Hiroki’s relationship is really slow paced which might not be everyone’s cup of tea but it works perfectly for them and I’ve loved how the manga sheds light on some pretty major things: the transition from being a student to having a job, sexual intimacy with a partner, dealing with changing dynamics in a relationship and so on…. This has truly been a great read for me.
It’s so relaxing to see this couple develop. Even more so in the next volume when we finally see them grow in their intimacy with each other. I can’t wait to see what’s next because their love is so sweet and earnest.
I love that we are getting to see their transition from undergraduate into the work force and further adulthood. This series couldn't get any better because it is already peak!