Saeki Sayaka, very serious, prone to overthinking things, has met someone who will change her life. Edamoto Haru, first year in college has confessed to liking Sayaka, and now she needs to decide what to do about it.

In Yagate Kimi ni Naru Saeki Sayaka ni Tsuite, Volume 3 (やがて君になる 佐伯沙弥香について), we get to ride along as Sayaka overthinks the whole thing in the most lesbian ways possible. ^_^ Haru, who tends toward being bright and energetic, in exactly the way Sayaka isn’t, is honest about her feelings. And, thankfully for us, patient as Sayaka works her way through what exactly her response ought to be.

I’m not going to spoil any of this for you because, although we may or may not get a print version of Volume 2 in time for June, we are likely to get the digital version. Instead of spoiling this ending with a detailed synopsis, I’m just going to call out a few things that I really particularly enjoyed. You’ll get to read it when it comes out in English and you can squirm through every lesbian thing Sayaka does – or doesn’t – do. 

Haru quickly takes to telling Sayaka to call her ‘Haru,’as one might expect. On brand for her, Sayaka continues to call her ‘Edamoto-san’ well into their relationship. It’s kind of a joke, kind of being an asshat, and kind of endearing…and, as I say, very on brand for Sayaka. My favorite scene in the book might well be when Haru pushes the point and Sayaka calls her “Edamoto” without the honorific. ^_^;

I loved the moment when Sayaka, standing alone in her room just stops and says out loud, “I have a girlfriend.” Squee.

As we know from Volume 8 of the manga, Sayaka meets Yuu while with Haru, and she kind of expected Yuu to tell Touko. Yuu stands her ground and tells Sayaka that it’s her responsibility, not Yuu’s. The conversation that Sayaka really has to have with Touko does happen here. I was so relieved, honestly.

Iruma Hitoma did an exceptional job of writing for this series. For an author I’ve found to be inconsistent, every one of these three volumes absolutely hit the mark for Sayaka’s voice and personality. Of course the art was on point, as well, given that the character creator was doing the art, but something more than that was apparent here. For one thing, every scene that ought to have been illustrated was. That’s unique for light novels, which so often emphasize irrelevancies in the art. And, in every image, the two characters were shown exactly the way we know them to be. I’m not sure I can explain this correctly, but you’ll see when you read it. Sayaka’s composed, staid way of holding herself, Haru’s more mobile expressions and body language…and the final picture, the satisfaction on Sayaka’s face, all were perfect.

Ratings:

Art – 10
Story – 9 A solid relationship story from the perspective of a young lesbian
Character – 10
Service – 3 A couple of small things and a big thing
Yuri – 9 A solid relationship story from the perspective of a young lesbian

Overall – 9

A better end to the Bloom Into You / Yagate Kimi ni Naru series than I could have ever imagined back in 2016, when I reviewed the first volume of the manga. A very satisfactory ending for Sayaka. I wish her and Haru (and Yuu and Touko) well.

Oh! I forgot to mention….I grinned throughout this book. It was really just that spot on. ^_^