It’s summer vacation and the Student Council is very busy. Between organizing the school festival and practice for the Student Council’s original play, Yuu doesn’t have much time to spend with Touko. They do squeeze in one date, but for the most part, Yuu’s spending her time with Kanou, who is struggling to find an appropriate end to the play.  In the middle of a crisis, Kanou meets one of her favorite writers and is surprised to find that the author is a woman.  Kanou writes a letter to Renma-sensei and, with renewed vigor approaches the script. 

This is not a side chapter. Kanou struggling with a script is really very much the core of Volume 5 of Yagate Kimi ni Naru (やがて君になる ). I say that because, when Kanou decides on a course for the play, it’s Yuu who stomps it down. Why, she asks, no, demands, should the lead even have to be any one of the people that the people around her insist she be? It’s a shockingly profound thought, to Kanou. Even though we can see that Yuu is thinking at least as much of Touko herself, it’s a massive breakthrough for Yuu, not just in how she thinks about Touko, but how she approaches their relationship.

Yuu’s breakthrough leaks into other parts of her life. She encounters a classmate who is crying after her feelings are rejected and says and does the right things. But not only is Yuu shown being supportive and humane, a male classmate joins them and also says and does the right things. This scene was worth my money as it’s an excellent example of a really decent guy handling a woman’s emotions with empathy and decency. A how-to on embracing non-toxic masculinity. It was really sweet.

Ultimately, the only one Yuu has not made any changes for is herself. Until, in the tension before the play, Touko grabs her and pulls her to a back of the building for a kiss. Yuu holds Touko off. She explains that she’s not for Touko, but she does support her, and will continue to do so, but will not be used by her. At which I sat back and said “Finally!” Yuu also demands Touko shed the burden of living up to her deceased older sister and do the play for herself. Which she does. 

A final chapter covers Yuu trying to decide where to hang the charm she got at the aquarium on her date with Touko and all the situations in which it would become awkward. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8 
Characters – 8 As they become more complicated, I like them more 
Yuri – 3
Service – 1

Overall – 8

This is the first volume we’ve seen Yuu push back at Touko and my interest in this series grew three times as a result. I guess I’d been waiting for Yuu to be an active participant in the narrative; 5 volumes into it, she finally has become one. I now look forward to seeing what becomes of her.

Bloom Into You, Volume 5 will hit shelves in June 2018 in English so you’ll be reading this pretty soon!