It was summer 2021 that last time we visited this manga by the insanely hard-working Nakamura Asumiko. When I initially encountered it in the pages of Rakuen Le Paradis in 2018(!) I did not expect it would keep going as it has. But as I spend time with the characters, I find myself more interested in them.

In Volume 1 we met Ruby Canossa, a young lady at a private school for girls and Steph, the engimatic older student who fascinates and terrifies her. In Volume 2 a crisis pops up when it appears that means that Ruby may have to leave school. Ruby’s reluctant and resentful roommate Liz rises to the occasion and helps out, but don’t assume she’s a friend!

Now in Volume 3 of Mejirobana Saku (メジロバナの咲く) our attention is turned towards Liz…and Steph. The circumstances of Steph’s injury, Liz’s complicated feelings for the older girl…and a teacher’s grooming of Liz are all entwined in a way that makes this volume compelling, incredibly hard to read and emotional. Content Warning for off-screen violence and implication of intended sexual assault. It wasn’t an easy volume.

Now, at last, we understand the undercurrents that wrap around Ruby. And now, a new plot has appeared. There are rumors of a ghost are starting to appear around the school and small items are going missing…! <shiver>

Nakamura-sensei’s art is so distinctive and so evocative. When a scene is getting intense, it’s really intense. Because the magazine this series runs in is quarterly, we’re only getting a volume every other year, but every volume has been a delight. It’s impressive to see Nakamura-sensei do such an interesting and pretty unique Yuri story, given that the setting is pretty Class S and she’s best known as a BL artist. That said this is a really great story.

Nakamura-sensei’s art is so distinctive and so evocative. When a scene is getting intense, it’s really intense. Because the magazine this series runs in is quarterly, we’re only getting a volume every other year, but every volume has been a delight. It’s impressive to see Nakamura-sensei do such an interesting and pretty unique Yuri story, given that the setting is pretty Class S and she’s best known as a BL artist. That said this is a really great story.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Service – Nothing overt, but the implications were dark
Yuri – 7

Overall – 9

Great stuff and I always look forward to more. We’ll be getting this volume in English as A White Rose in Bloom, Volume 3 in January 2024.