Welcome back to Guest Review Wednesday on Okazu. Today’s review is by veteran guest reviewer Luce!
In this sixth volume of My Idol Sits The Next Desk Over, Sakiko finds out the results of her photo competition and reveals the motivations for wanting to be an official photographer of Spring Shine to Chihiro. Chihiro and Maaya (the latter somewhat begrudgingly) make a surprise cake for Sakiko. Sakiko comes up with an idea for the school festival – an idol cafe! Complete with pretend groups. Maaya makes a friend – sort of… Finally, after a shake up with Spring Shine, Chihiro is troubled, Maaya comes clean, and Sakiko feels like she can’t say the things she ought to as a friend while also being a fan, upsetting Chihiro in the process.
These volumes always feel like there is a lot going on, but they’re not particularly longer than other manga; they just seem to have a succinct story-telling style which keeps the pace of the story fluid. This volume stretches over several months, and yet I don’t feel like it’s unduly skipping sections or skimping on the emotion. It doesn’t dwell on anything too long, but not in an erratic way.
The idol cafe was a genius idea, and although I’m sure it’s not completely new, really made the school festival arc memorable. I’m glad the mangaka decided to change up the usual ‘haunted house/maid cafe’ tropes we usually get – it’s even cuter to see Chihiro teaching them the routine. I’m sure that some classes are probably putting this into action in Japan! Plus, when one of Sakiko’s group (the Masked Group, since they’re quite shy) feels ill on the day, Chihiro steps in to cover. It’s adorable. Also the face Maaya makes when she realises that Sakiko is getting idol lessons off their idol is hilarious.
Maaya’s new ‘friend’ – in so much as Motoyama befriends an apathetic Maaya – seems a little thrown in there initially, but I like her, her bluntness is quite refreshing. She likes Maaya for just putting up with her, even getting disappointed when she realises that Maaya puts a front on for Chihiro, and it helps that her bluntness isn’t mean, like Maaya’s can be – as she says, she just has no filter. She also helps serve a role – an impartial person, not blinded by love for Chihiro as an idol, able to make comments without being pulled either way like Sakiko and Maaya.
The end of the volume comes with two big emotional hits: Maaya coming clean about her long history as a fan prior to meeting Chihiro at school, and Sakiko feeling guilty about keeping Maaya’s secrets from Chihiro. I’m not quite sure it’s a love confession when Maaya tells Chihiro, but it sure feels like one in some ways. She’s come a long way from the start of the series, even admitting that she’s done wrong by other fans and Sakiko. The volume finishes on a whole page panel of Chihiro that stuck in my mind such that I went back to look at it. The art is perfect for an idol manga, but it can sure hit the emotional sections too.
In a volume that goes from cute to funny, adorable to heartwarming, it finishes on very much an emotional cliffhanger. I’m very eager to see where they go from here – Maaya can’t avoid Chihiro forever, Sakiko’s despondency has seriously hurt Chihiro in her hour of need, and the future of Spring Shine seems uncertain.
Story – 9
Art – 9
Yuri – 7? It seems fairly certain that Maaya likes Chihiro a lot, although whether that’s as a fan or a person seems muddled, likely on purpose. I doubt even Maaya knows.
Service – 0
Overall – I personally really enjoyed this volume, so 10.
I feel like this is an idol manga that doesn’t idolise idols, and I’m really enjoying it. I only wish they were releasing it in physical, as I love the art and story. Kodansha’s store says Volume 7 (potentially the last) is coming out in May!
Erica here: Thank you so much for keeping us up to date on this series, Luce. I look forward to reading (about) the climax. ^_^
