Still reeling from the (Ferris) wheeling, Ayaka is left to recognize that she’s feeling something for Honda besides obligation. As she avoids addressing it, a new transfer student rolls in who has her sights set on Honda. Whatever is a girl to do?
This story sort of recovers its premise at the end of the story, but basically gives it lip service and not much else, which is not a swipe at the amount of kissing that leads to (although that turns out really funny given how accidentally thirsty Ayaka is).
Throwing Morinaga, the transfer student, into the mix is the wrong way to jostle the status quo, I think. She’s the typical bouncy gyaru and exuberant and turns out to be the support both girls need, but I like a story that has the strength to let its leads do the heavy lifting themselves.
When both of them get jealous because the other is spending time with Morinaga, without understanding why, it’s a little too convenient as plot devices go. I’m glad there’s no rival angle, but she’s still something I don’t think was needed.
Similarly, Honda’s backstory about meeting Ayaka is kind of a fizzle that involves a lot of love at first sight that might be realistic for that age, but isn’t terribly developed or interesting. You only need to check a volume of Whisper Me A Love Song to see this done really well. Honda’s withdrawn nature makes her far less engaging than Ayaka, to her detriment.
I do like that Ayaka apologizes for using Honda, even if she got the worse end of the deal, because that arrangement is getting in the way of her actual feelings. That’s a neat idea and even if she can’t quite confess yet, it’s good to get that cleared up early on, bonus point there.
When the story gets out of its own way, it’s actually pretty darn sweet. Besides a little classroom rendezvous, both girls do like one another and the little touches like Ayaka going out of her way to walk with Honda are really sweet. The quiet romance is much better than the machinations of the plot, but the latter seems to be the focus this time.
As befits the title, the role of lonely girl applies to both of them, depending on how you squint. Ayaka feels like an outcast in her own family because of the expectations heaped on her. Honda feels like one because her parents would rather fight than actually parent. There’s a nice duality and ‘they both save each other’ vibe to it.
Those parts are fun and the bones of a story that it, and the reader, would be better served telling. This veers off course from what it was originally intending and I’m not exactly sure why. It has elements of the premise, but the way it all comes together is inelegant.
Sadly, I also found the teacher who instigated all this to be way more annoying than funny this time out; she was walking a line but falls too far to the side of being a bully. It’s another example where a defter touch would have made this better.
The supporting cast is good, if incredibly accepting of all this going on (acceptance is good though!), and I do like the way they’re fleshed out a little bit. These two don’t exist in a vacuum and that makes the story better as well.
There’s a lot going for this story, but I do think it tries more than it succeeds. The ingredients are all there, but somebody forgot to turn the stove on. When it does heat up it does come together in very sweet ways, so I think it’s an apt summation.
3.5 stars - this series is fine and it occasionally brushes against being very good, but it’s either just okay in the writing department or doesn’t have confidence in itself in a way that makes it a bit less than its parts. Worthwhile, yes, but not top-tier yuri at this point.
This was really cute and I can see the setup for what it will be like moving forward. I also like that the problematic aspects from volume one are kinda answered and dealt with in a way that makes me feel more comfortable with their relationship moving forward.
this one is right up my alley - extremely cute and wholesome. the slightly uncomfy premise is left far behind here as they both grow closer and come to realize their true feelings for each other. I was afraid of the love triangle that the back of the book hints at, but it ends up being SOOO cute, since morinaga basically just becomes their cheerleader!! I loved the three legged race, and sora's backstory is sweet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Del 6 al 10 más los extras. Como quedé enganchá lo seguí y las sigo queriendo mucho, entremedio confusión por la compañera que parecía rival pero en realidad venía a shippearlas y contribuir en la comunicación (agradecida), al final Ayaka toma el valor para decirse como se siente PERO AUN ESTÁ CONFUNDIDA y no sabe qué son esos sentimientos así que le pide ser amigas oficialmente, y Sora preciosa acepta porque la quiere cerca, ayudaaaa sdjhfsj
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.