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Friday, May 22, 2020

Manga Review: Ao Haru Ride, Volume 9, by Io Sakisaka


Rating (Out of 5): ~4
Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)
Release Date: February 2020
Volumes: 13.
Spoilers?: No.
Volume: 1. 8. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The popular shojo manga series that was adapted into the Blue Spring Ride anime!

Futaba Yoshioka thought all boys were loud and obnoxious until she met Kou Tanaka in junior high. But as soon as she realized she really liked him, he had already moved away because of family issues. Now, in high school, Kou has reappeared, but is he still the same boy she fell in love with?

Futaba Yoshioka has encountered her first love again in high school, but he seems different from the boy she once knew. Futaba does her best to force Kou out of her heart. Toma and Futaba grow closer, and Kou realizes he doesn’t have much time to win her back…

Review:

Futaba and Kou are on very different pages at this point. Futaba is under one impression regarding Kou and Yui being in a relationship, because of how Kou is treating Futaba. Which means that Futaba has told herself she needs to move on, she's been rejected, and thus Kikuchi steps in for her.
Kou is dumb, and not only does he know it, but so does Kominato and Shuko. Just as he's trying to resolve his relationship with Yui, he's realizing that he's probably missed his chance with Futaba.
Kikuchi, on the other hand, is much too good for what Futaba is dealing with. He's the sweetest boy, honestly. Knowing what Futaba is going through, he's still understanding of it, giving her time, while also making her aware that he's there and he wants to be with her. He's so forward, while also a bit awkward and embarrassed, and it's just the sweetest.
The somewhat surprise, scene-stealing couple of the volume ended up being Yuri and Ichimiya. I was already rooting for them, and it's really sweet how they finally grow closer. There's a distinct kind of honesty in these characters, and I really appreciate that.
Sometimes this gets a bit dramatic, and I definitely don't think the drama is over yet, but there's always a certain kind of sweetness and maturity in Sakisaka's characters that I really enjoy.

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