Content Warning: Teenage girls in sports outfits.
Before we get into this one, I need to tell you a bit of a story. Like when I was trying to get a volume of Gigant (go check out my reviews of that series if you like what I do here), I ended up having to take a lot of time just to get this one volume. I had started buying the series when volume 7 or 8 was coming out and bought the first one. And then the next two. When I went to buy this one, it was out of stock at Amazon. And Powell’s. And some guy on eBay wanted like $50 for it. Doing some checking, I found it at Barnes and Nobel’s but had to pay $4 shipping for a $10 volume of manga. As of right now, I have the next two volumes on pre-order. I don’t fuck around anymore.
Let’s get to the good stuff, because this one has Nakanaka in it! Like, right away! YES! I’m sorry but she is my favorite character. In fact, I would love to see a spin-off series of her. After she gets over her “phase.” Besides, she’s got that whole alt-girl look going on and I like that look. So sue me. Anyway. Nakanaka’s room room is an Otaku’s dream, with posters, figurines, and manga. While Nakanaka is very much into video games, Komi isn’t. So, when she tries to show her a fantastic game, Komi isn’t exactly excited. She’s not against it, just not super into it. Najimi and Tadano to the rescue! Nakanaka invited Najimi and they brought Tadano, making this the first time Nakanaka has had a boy in her room. Soon, they play a “legally distinct but closely resemble” Smash Brothers and Komi doesn’t really know what to do. While Tadano tries to teach Komi the basics, Najimi is hell bent on beating her, with only Nakanaka standing in her way. While that battle rages, Komi accidentally beats the snot out of Tadano. It’s really cute and I like how, just, relaxed this whole thing is.
Next up, Komi is too hot and just lazing around the home. While watching TV, she comes across a recipe that she wants to try and she ends up making it. In this one, Komi actually says something to her brother, Shosuke, but he doesn’t seem to believe it really happened. Now, I will warn you that Shosuke is going to be around for a while in the later part of the series, as the cast continues to expand.
After this, Najimi tricks Komi into helping them with their summer homework, and has a study session with her at Tadano’s place, with Yamai turning up without being invited. This also gives us the formal introduction of Tadano’s little sister, Hitomi. This is the last day of vacation and they, Najimi and Tadano, have to finish up their homework. But the study session quickly becomes a “review episode” of the last few chapters. While this might make sense for weekly readers, which is how most folks in Japan would be reading, it does kind of bog down the volume.
Moving on, our next chapter introduces (yet another) new character, Inaka. Inaka is a country girl that’s some how going to school in the city. I honestly don’t know if this ever explained. Honestly, I find her accent really hard to read. I know that in Japanese it probably isn’t much better. This whole chapter is about Komi getting sent to Not!Subway for a sandwich by Najimi and Inaka just follows her. This happens to Komi a lot, by the way. There’s not a lot going on with this one but I’m only really mentioning it because Inaka turns up for the first time here and she does pop up again.
The important part of this volume (yes, I skipped some stuff, you can buy it and read it if you want) involves the school’s Field Day. Of course, we get another character for this story, Netsuno. Netsuno is very athletic and is obsessed with how “hot” people’s passion is for stuff. At first, she rates Komi as very cold and her class as warm, but starts to see the passion ignite as the games go on. Speaking of games, the first one is exercises, with Komi winning over Netsuno. Next is the tug-of-war, with the class losing the first round due to Komi pressing against Yamai. They do okay after this. Following the tug-of-war is group jump-rope, where the group, including Komi, is able to jump together 100 times, taking the win. Afterwards is the obstacle course, where Agari has to climb over something and then eat bread off of a string. The pervy old men judging give Agari the top scoce because she’s very well-endowed. Yeah, that’s just a little creepy. They move on to a baton race, with Nakanaka having to put her face into some potato starch to get it out and then pass it to Tadano. When Komi cheers for Tadado, he’s able to make up for lost time, but only brings them up to the middle of the pack. Because he’s so average, don’t you know? During a downpour, Komi’s mom shows up and embarrasses her but Shuko does thank everyone for being Komi’s friend. The next event, after the rain, is a borrowing competition, with everyone getting stuff from Tadano. I guess it’s good to be so reliable. After this, we have musical chairs, with everyone offering Komi one when the music stops. Next, we have four in a row, each getting one panel: Stealing headbands, ball toss, rolling gigantic balls (heh), and pole-topple melee. The final event is a relay race, with Komi, Yadano, Sonoda, and Chiarai representing class 1-1. they’re up against class 2-3, including Netsuno. Netsuno tries to be polite and shake but Komi takes too long. When Netsuno and Komi get their batons at the same time, the race is on, but Komi slips and falls. But, Komi gets back up and gives it her all. In the end, she, and the class, come in second place. But, Netsuno seems to have gained some respect for them.
Our next chapter is a competition between Nakanaka and Yamai trying to learn how Tadano can tell what Komi is thinking. The trio watches Komi and the two girls try to guess what Komi is thinking and then Tadano tells them what she’s actually thinking. And he’s usually right. The girls are wrong. Now, there’s actually some interesting stuff here for the girls, as you learn more about how they view the world, and Komi, by their answers. This little adventure ends when Komi notices that they’ve been watching her and talking.
The final chapter of this volume is about Komi wanting to visit a photo booth and ends up going with Tadano, Najimi, and Yamai. They have a bit of fun with it but Komi has a bit of trouble with the whole thing. However, she does have fun.
And that’s where this volume ends. It’s mostly fluff, sadly, but still fun.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Suggestion: Another
volume of mostly filler but it is building our characters, and not
just the core three.
