Nettaigyo ha Yuki ni Kogareru, Volume 3 (熱帯魚は雪に焦がれる ) is, honestly, a very frustrating interlude in a story that had been developing so sweetly. 

It’s summer and the whole town really digs in and does the summer festival. Konatsu is looking forward to going to the festival with Koyuki – and she convinces Koyuki to participate with a show at the aquarium. 

Koyuki is, as usual, reticent to get involved. But she’s finding herself becoming more and more focused on Konatsu and is dragged along by her, until she agrees. They meet on the night of the festival, but they are both avoiding talking about what is developing between them. 

Konatsu is able to show Koyuki the fish show she’s planning for the next day and Koyuki is genuinely moved by her passion and enthusiasm, but as the next morning dawns, Koyuki is sick in bed.

It felt like the brakes were applied on an already slowly-moving story in this volume…for not much narrative payoff. It was both disappointing and frustrating. 

Ratings: 

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Service – 1 on principle only, there really isn’t any
Yuri – 4

Overall – 7

I enjoy this series and was hoping to see it move forward, not backward in Volume 3. Here’s hoping Volume 4 picks up .