Perhaps it was inevitable, perhaps not. Up until now, this series has been a lighthearted, goofy look at kids in school, with little to no service, but this time the cover and color front page of Morita-san ha Mukuchi, Volume 7 (森田さんは無口) are a bit…. Oh well, it was a good run.

Once past the offending art, Volume 7 continues on as it always has, with lighthearted, goofy gag comics about kids at school, their relationships with each other, their families and their daily life.

The cutest set of gags comes early on, as Mayu’s friends are taking about her while she’s out of the room. They are being effusive in their praise of their silent friend. She can hear them from outside and becomes too embarrassed to enter the room. Class rep Yamamoto finds here there, blushing outside the door and instantly surmises the situation. She listens in, to find the conversation has moved on and she is now being praised. She takes a seat next to Mayu outside the door. ^_^

Thankfully, the stalker chick is played down into one tired gag about not being able to see without eyeglasses.

A big chunk of the book is given over to the stuff that is going on inside Mayu’s head while she’s trying to decide what to say. Each potential comment or answer is represented by a little Mayu in her head with a sign. Overwhelmed at each turn of conversation by the noise and lack of consensus in her brain, Mayu misses her chance to speak.

The end pages remind us that it would be all to easy too see Mayu as someone alone, locked in her own head, except that she’s actually surrounded by friends who love her for who she is. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story – 6
Characters – 9
Yuri – 1
Service – 3

Overall – 8

Some of the jokes are played out now. And the service is a bad sign. If it were me, I’d wrap this series up with the next volume.

I have an extra copy of this volume to give away!  Contiguous 48 USA states only this time. Let me know your name and where you are in the USA in the comments. I’ll pick a winner on Saturday in the YNN report.