In Volume 1, we met Yukawa, who became friendly, then friends, then lovers with her coworker, Mizuki. Now, in Volume 2 of Teiji ni Ageretara (定時にあがれたら), they are navigating new territory as lovers.

Getting together with coworkers or old school friends now presents new challenges, as they struggle with how much attention they can pay to one another. So does working together – especially when Yukawa is assigned a newbie to shepherd….an attractive, friendly newbie, who uses Yukawa’s given name like it’s nothing! Mizuki is trying to not be annoyed or jealous and is failing horribly. It’s not that she doesn’t trust Yukawa, it’s just…she so cute and charming, who wouldn’t want her?!?

They shop together, they cook together, they spend their day off together and stay over and are blissfully happy about it. ^_^

The crises and their resolutions are quiet, small and utterly everyday. It’s lovely.  Inui Ayui’s art is loose and often unstructured, the focus is on emotional content, rather that life-like representation. But it’s so clearly a kind of story that any human who has ever been in love will understand and who will find that, almost despite themselves, there is a smile on their face as they read.

Just as a reminder (since I myself had to be reminded, thanks again, CW) Inui Ayu is currently doing an autobiographical comic about life with her girlfriend for Comic Yuri Hime right now, so clearly she’s writing this from personal experience. And it really shows, especially when Mizuki or Yukawa are squeeing over how adorable their lover is. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 7 Characters have a tendency to look a little soppy
Story – 7 It’s nice, not amazing
Characters – 7 Same
Service – 0 in this volume
Yuri – 7 We end this volume at the beginning….

Overall – 7

For folks like me, who are always looking for after the “happily ever after,” this story absolutely hits the nail on the crumpet. (Points to anyone who gets that reference!)