Volume 5 of Kiss and White Lily For My Dearest Girl, is predicted upon the idea that a promise made at 5 years old is still valid a decade later. Let me assure you that they are not. ^_^
Nishikawa Itsuki keep glaring at Itou Sawa and Sawa doesn’t know why. When Itsuki turns out to be long-lost childhood friend, the penny still doesn’t drop. Of course, eventually they manage to figure out how they can face the future together. Phew.
We spend some time with Shirahime and Kurosawa, and finally get insight on what actually drives Ayaka to be so competitive. It’s an emotional and frustrating moment for her and us, but for Kurosawa, it’s a moment of of clarity and she steps up and is just the pillar of strength that Ayaka needs.
I will never be the audience for the lost-childhood dream, but for Ayaka’s arc is very poignant. It also provides the the missing piece to her personality and for that, it’s an important volume. And if you like poignant, emotional stories, Kiss and White Lily For My Dearest Girl is a series that’s worth reading.
Art – 8
Story – 6
Characters – 7
Yuri – 8
Service – 1 on principle
Overall – 7
No, seriously. Any promises made in in kindergarten are no longer valid. ^_^
As much as I love Chiharu and Izumi (the main couple from vol.2, who also have a fair bit of screen time in vol.6), I’d say chapter 23 in this volume is my favourite of the series – of almost any series, really. It feels like one of those ‘moments’ in comics that’s deserving of a deep dive.
SPOILER WARNING – I’m going to write a bunch on what I love about this chapter. Spoilers ahoy!
This chapter is all about space: in its 25 pages of story, 12 of these are without dialogue. There are many shots of empty roads, expanses of scenery, etc. Shiramine is trying to find some space for herself, and Kurosawa in turn is trying to give her room, while still ‘being there’ for her. Kurosawa periodically hazards an attempt at conversation just to gauge where she is, gets yelled at, backs off, and tries again a little later, while never straying too far. In fact, each time she’s shown sitting near Shiramine, she’s shown sitting a little bit closer. Even the sunhat she bought herself ends up on Shiramine’s head later, a non-verbal way of communicating to the reader that Kurosawa is looking out for her. (And vice-versa, since when Kurosawa wakes up in the morning, you see that Shiramine has put the hat on her shoulders, as it`s the closest thing to a blanket they have)
When Shiramine is finally ready to open up, the advice Kurosawa gives her is exactly what she’d been doing all day: “When you don’t know what to do…even if you’re just dying to get closer…it’s good to keep a little distance. It’s better to wait for the right time when things become easier.” This is likely Kurosawa’s first time ‘being there’ for someone, so of course she doesn’t really know what to do – but the fact that she gives her space, without leaving, in spite of how uncomfortable this must feel for her, strikes me as such a powerful moment of character building.
The visual metaphor for when Kurosawa comforts Shiramine on page 88 also puts me on the verge of tears nearly every time I see it, it`s so sweet.
It`s unusual for Kiss & White Lily to have a `dark night of the soul` for one of its characters, but it`s a masterclass in storytelling. Two characters experience a huge growth spurt in character development, and it also changes the dynamic of their relationship from this point on, giving it so much more depth than just the tsundere/rival trope we started out with in volume 1.
TL/DR: I love this chapter so much!
Next volume I’m ambivalent about, I will ask you to write a review of. Your love for this series is expressive and delightful, while I tend to see it as a (relatively) pedestrian look at Yuri tropes. Considered yourself hired for Volume 6.
I won’t let you down!
I have faith in you. ^_^