For once, I was in Japan when Yuri Hime Comics were hitting manga store shelves! Woot! To make my small victory even better, the first half of Renai Joshi File (レンアイ・女子ファイル) is quite possibly the best thing Morishima Akiko-sensei has done to date.

In that title story, two women who have been together for 10 years find themselves befriending a high school girl and providing her advice and sympathetic ears as she works through her own first relationship.

The second story follows Saki’s ex from Renai Joshikka (Volume 1 and Volume 2 reviewed here.) Kimi, having lost Saki through neglect, is now second-guessing herself. She hires a private detective who turns out to be very good for her. ^_^

This final section, covers the meeting, subsequent friendship and possibly more between two girls who both want to quit school.

The last two stories fit together well if you approach them as object lessons on not letting life stop you from living. But it’s the first that just made me smile throughout. Young women in love meeting role models with an established relationship? Yes, please!

As usual with Morishima’s work, she peppers her moe art with really sensible advice and perspective about life.  Really great stuff.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Character – 8 overall, but Hiiro and Miyako are 10 and Kimi is a mope.
Yuri – 10
Service – 7

Overall – 9

Great stuff, by a great creator and for once, I got it when it came out. That’s darn near a perfect score for an otaku. ^_^