Fujisawa Makoto’s Himitsu no Kakera (秘密のカケラ) is the pleasantest thing I have read all week. ^_^

The cover story “Sore wo Omoi no Kakera” features to goat-horned school girls. When one hands over what is clearly a love letter, her love interest eats it. Yuki tries to explain that Yoru’s feelings tasted delicious, but it’s not until Yoru gives her Yuki gives a love letter in return and is immediately driven to eat it that she understands.

This is followed by two very short, average stories. I was getting a bit worried that this would be just another Yuri manga, when we hit “Hontou to Uso to Himitsu.”

The bulk of the book is taken up with this truly delightful story about a witch with a secret identity and the girl she meets one night while out riding her broom. This story was adorable and fun in every way and it made me feel good while reading it.  Even the set up turned out better than I thought it might – at first Sakurako seems like she’s going to be following a step along, but once she and Misors (the witch) meet at school, the story flips the script and she’s  an active participant in their tale. Even Bianca’s apparent tsundere behavior sort of wanders off, so by the end of the story, there isn’t anybody left to not like and one is rooted hard for the protagonists. As I said, a real delight.

Ratings:

Art – 7 Very Comic Yuri Hime house style, not overly infantilized, but still moe.
Story – 9
Characters – 8
Yuri – 7 Like, mostly
Service – 3

Overall – 9

Good, good, good all around. Buy it – read it, look at the pretty pictures, whatever, but do get Himitsu no Kakera!