The basic plot of Sunshine Sketch, Volume 5 is the same as always – a number of young women attending school are neighbors in a local apartment building. The story, such as it is, revolves around activities in school and out, events, outings and daily life.

Because the series is now 5 Volumes along, there’s less hyperactive “Hahahah!” type humor. It’s generally elicits more of a “heh” and a soft smile. If you adore the characters, you’ll adore this volume.

I’m reviewing it today not because I adore the characters, but because I find two of them rather problematic on the whole.

Sae and Hiro, the Mom and Dad of the group, as everyone points out, are just like an old married couple. Sae relies on Hiro, Hiro seems to get great pleasure out of being Sae’s helpmeet. To me, it is terribly, desperately, obvious that Hiro has feelings for Sae, and that Sae, while she cares for Hiro is working really hard at making sure they are friends, you know, just friends. And, I can’t but feel, sad, I guess, for Hiro.

I realize that any connection between the two of them is purposefully being kept on this uneven like/love line but, I’ll be honest, it frustrates me. Every time I read a volume of this series, I want to sit Sae down have a talk with her, and about a week later, have a talk with Hiro. And then see if they can be more honest with each other.

If they could just work that out, I’d like this series so much better. Sigh….

Ratings:

Art – Ummm…I guess some people like it, but the giant heads being squished down really does not do it for me – 4
Story – 6
Characters – 6
Yuri – 2
Service – 2

Overall – 6

I don’t hate this series by any stretch of the imagination, but I feel there’s so much that could be happening, and instead we’re just seeing the same jokes over and over….

Many thanks to Okazu Superhero Amanda M for sponsoring today’s review and giving me the chance to think over what I really want from a series!