Galette No. 22 (ガレット No.22) begins with another strong cover illustration by pen. This is followed by a comic report by Morita Miyuki of the Galette 5th anniversary event!

Like other recent issues, this is split into two section – short continuing and one-shot stories and the continuation of Hakamada Mera’s Aikata System, presumably because Dgenzaka Shobor has pivoted away from Yuri towards only BL. A loss, I think, because they had some quirky titles. I did review Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Aikata System ~ Gakuen ga Eranda Unmei no Onna no ko~, but not the story has move past the chapters I previously read.  Let me spend a second on this second half of the book for a second, because while the premise of this story seems very much an easy Yuri premise – that is, when a student gets accepted into this school, they are assigned an “aikata” a partner, perhaps lover. But by now in the story, we can see that the system is quite broken and can easily be toxic. Two first years are watching their aikata hurt and be hurt by their former partners. Kairo is ready to see the system burnt to the ground. The reason I am taking time to mention this  is because I would love to a see a story that destroyed the hoary old, unhealthy tradition that binds the characters.

Morinaga Milk’s “Watashi no Kawaii Neko-chan” has fall into a rut. I don’t really understand why the two characters can’t just have a conversation, but both of them feel that the other doesn’t love them any more, for various reasons. Once again, I am reminded that Morinaga-sensei’s strength in narrative is just before a couple gets together. I don’t know where this can go and, at the moment, it feels like it’s going nowhere.

Of the remaining shorts and chapters, I really liked the very first one-shot “Natsukashii Mirai no Kimi e” by Asube Yui. It’s a great little fiction about memory and love and loss. Really solid. A sad, but lovely story.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

Issue No. 23 is out with the return of “Liberty,” another story I’m not sure where it’s going, but I;m here for the ride. If you buy it from Booth or Melonbooks, it comes with a clearfile by Moringaa Milk!