Today Okazu hit a new benchmark – all the reviews this week have been of English-language translations of Yuri manga. Wow. That’s a first.

Today, we’re looking at a property that fills me with glee every time I read it, Catch These Hands!, Volume 2. In my review of Volume 2 in Japanese I summed it up as “Yes, they are an item, but their relationship is still a work in progress.” That’s a pretty fine summation, if I do say so myself. It’s also where we’re going to start.

In high school Takebe and Soramori were rivals in gang warfare. Takebe was never able to beat Soramori and, as a result, she sees everything as a challenge. Including dating. It’s very easy to blame the apparent dysfunction of their relationship on Takebe, as she’s not very good at communication. But, let’s be honest, Soramori is just as culpable – overthinking things, coming to conclusions on her own and not really explaining the process. Amazingly, while this brings them to the brink of a crisis…they keep on going on.

This has to be seen as a triumph. Even as Takebe insists she’s going along with everything because she lost their fight, surely at some point she could just insist that she’s an adult and isn’t interested?

So in this volume, Soramori struggles to find things that will keep Takebe entertained. She learns more than she bargained for about her ertswhile girlfriend. Takebe learns that there is a path out of gang life into adult life that can include a functional relationship. And slowly, Takebe and Soramori take a few steps to actually communicating.

This super goofy gang-girl dating sim manages to make it through puberty in one volume. Not bad for a gag.

murata’s art is solid as I’ve ever seen. Takebe’s expressions as a child make this volume. The story-telling really rides Takebe’s annoyance levels perfectly. A little more would be too much, a little less would ruin the tension.

At the end of this volume, I’m definitely rooting for Takebe and Soramori to make it work. ^_^

Also solid is the translation by Amanda Haley, which always gives Takebe an extra rough edge that Soramori has smoothed out. Bianca Pistillo’s lettering as as good as Yen Press’s house style allows for. Editing is solid and thank you Yen for giving us the staff credits. Bundling them that way makes some solid sense. Lastly, fantastic job on the cover by Wendy Chan, Haley and Pistillo. It’s always a challenge to letter stuff in the background. In this case, that popsicle stick is indeed a winner. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Service – 0
Yuri – 5 As I said, “Yes, they are an item, but their relationship is still a work in progress.”

Volume 3 of Catch These Hands! will be headed our way in autumn. Once again this week I say to you, it will be worth the wait. ^_^