Mayuki is determined to get into the school of her choice to be close to the girl she likes, her old sempai on the basketball team, Akira. But her grades are just not that great. She gets a tutor who goes to that very school,  Ootomo Kouko. When Mayuki had toured the school she saw two girls kissing and then having a fight, because the one girl said her affections can’t be limited to one person. Lo and behold! when Rin, her new tutor arrives, it turns out to be the one of those two girls who cannot love only one person.  Back at Ootomo, Rin and Akira are becoming closer, too and Akira really likes Rin. Mayuki hasn’t been able to tell Akira how she feels, but she has confided in Rin, who find herself attracted to Mayuki. But she really likes Akira, too.

Canno’s Goukaku Tame no! Yasashi Sankaku Kakei Nyuumon ( 合格のための！ やさしい三角関係入門) is about a three-way relationship that will undoubtedly work. It’s designed to work. We already know Rin’s  and Mayumi’s feelings and Akira’s are right on the cusp of being right there with them both. And yet, I did not much like this story. I’ll do my best to articulate why.

In Kiss and White Lily for my Dearest Girl, Volume 6 Canno had created a three-way relationship that I felt worked, where our reviewer for the volume, did not. I have a nagging suspicion that our opinions would be reversed this time. ^_^ To begin with, Rin starting the series with the declaration that she cannot choose – while I completely understand would be a totally valid way of self-identifying as poly, (especially before having the word to do so) – felt hollow presented with no context surrounding it. We are then backed into the relationship she’s currently in because of Mayuki seeing it’s end. And later we learn how it began, and we are left feeling awkward about Rin starting this new relationship before really handling the old.  On an entirely personal note, I was also made uncomfortable by Rin and Mayuki’s kissing. It seemed an abuse of power and age, drawn to be acceptable because the younger girl asked for it, which is exactly the opposite lesson one should take here. No, Rin. You are the older person, in a position of some (admittedly small) power. It is up to you to say no and establish boundaries. The deep kiss closeups are uuugghhh, for me. It’s like…I get it.

I found myself more interested in Akira, but am concerned that she will feel coerced into this relationship by Mayuki and Rin. The cover even bothers me! ^_^ It’s not Mayuki at the center of this relationship. At the moment, it’s Rin. Which brings me to the point I want to make. These characters are just too young for me. I found it hard to like Mayuki or Rin. I just…don’t care about them, separately or together. They are not interesting outside the fact that they have a relationship. Mauyki and Akira have basketball in comm. Rin and Mayuki have…studying for an entrance exam and teenage libido in common. Snooze. Ultimately, the linchpin of the three-way relationship, Rin, has the least going for her.

If you enjoy Canno-sensei’s art, then you will absolutely like this volume. There might be slightly more emphasis on reactions and close-ups than in Kiss and White Lily, but it is the art you know and love.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Characters – 5
Story – 5
Service – Yep. Dressing/undressing, those kisses, some cleavage
Yuri – 8
Queer – 5 I don’t think this is the story I’d hand to someone to explain being “poly” to them, but if some folks read it and discover they are poly because of it, that’s all to the good.

Overall – 6

I hope they are all happy at the end of the next volume when it is released in the next few weeks after the series ends next month, but I am fairly convinced I don’t want to read the book to find out. ^_^; I might keep an eye out on Comic Walker to see how it goes.