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Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Manga Review: Kaguya-sama Love is War, Volume 12, by Aka Akasaka


Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5
Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)
Release Date: January 2020
Volumes: 18+
Spoilers?: No.
Volume: 1. 11. 13.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Two high school geniuses scheme to get the other to confess their love first.

Two geniuses. Two brains. Two hearts. One battle. Who will confess their love first…?!

Will Shirogane ever admit to his insignificant but seemingly infinite lack of nonacademic talents? And what of the other student council members? Are any of them willing to see themselves objectively? Then it’s time for the school cultural festival, which harkens back to a legend of ancient personal sacrifice that inspires the present-day students…symbolically, at least. Plus, a student council arm wrestling competition, balloon animals and a flashback episode to Shirogane’s first awkward weeks as an outsider at Shuchiin High.

Cosplay makes the woman.

Review:

Now that graduation is getting closer, Kaguya and Miyuki are forming different perspectives on their relationship. Kaguya is still just beginning to understand her real feelings, and still trying to goad Miyuki into confessing or asking her out. But Miyuki, on the other hand, has accepted his feelings and is suddenly reacting very different from how Kaguya expects. Suddenly he's just agreeing with her teasing, and she doesn't know how to deal with it.
At the end of the volume we get a surprising new insight into how these two got in this position, how they first met when they started as freshmen. But before that, we see Miyuki and Kaguya attempting to push their relationship forward, only to be met with outside forces interfering, or even their own fears interfering. Like when they start flirting and Kaguya shows him a few costume options for her class' cafe. And when Miyuki starts questioning how other people view him.
Then there are a few chapters outside of them. Ishigami and Miko try helping out with the festival committee, and we again see how Ishigami can be quite outgoing in certain circumstances. And when Miyuki has troubles with balloon animals, and Chika has flashbacks from teaching him. These are some of my favorite moments, honestly. Including when she forces the group to have a thumb war because Ishigami insults her, and it doesn't quite turn in her favor.
This is a lot of fun. I thought the series was wrapping up soon, but apparently not. It's still going strong.


A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

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