When we left Kaede and Nanami at the end of Volume 7, Kaede was confronted by the fact that she was, in fact, attracted to Nanami. As 2DK, G Pen, Mezamashitokei., Volume 8 (2DK、Gペン、目覚まし時計。) dawns, she is in full-blown avoidance of the woman she likes.

Yes, Kaede has built-in excuse for it, work has never been busier. And she’s received big news, but can’t bring herself to talk to Nanami about it. Instead she gives Nanami an expensive present and hides in her room again. Nanami has to ask Koyuki for the scoop – and finds that Kaede’s manga is being turned into a drama. Big news indeed.

But the tension between them goes on, until Nanami forces a confrontation. “It’s over” she says. She doesn’t want to stand in Kaede’s way, now that she’s reached her goal. At which point, Kaede realizes that her goal now includes Nanami and, at last, they come together as equals.

The epilogue follows some of the other characters and the lives they have chosen. We meet Ruuko’s new junior (a character who gets a story of her own in the Chocolat anthology Thanks for the correction, CW, the anthologies have all started to blur a bit. ^_^; ) and find out how married life is treating Aoi and we revisit even Mahiru, whose gotten a girlfriend of her own.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Yuri – 9
Service – 0

Overall – 9

This final volume came with a copy of “Monthly Motivation” a booklet of inspirational quotes by Ruuko to keep us going. Ohsawa-sensei’s love affair with this supporting character absolutely cracks me up.

8 volumes is an incredibly solid run for this series. I’m sorry it’s over, but look forward to seeing what’s next for Ohsawa-sensei!