Like many Yuri fans right now, I long for an action-packed, kick ass sword lesbian thriller. Odoriba ni Skirt ga Naru, Volume 3 (踊り場にスカートが鳴る) by Utatane Yu is none of those things. ^_^ But this slow, yet intensely, burning ballroom dance drama grips me in ways I could never have expected.
Kiki and Michiru have found renewed determination to make the Quadrille. Kiki and Michiru’s positions in the dance no longer strike their peers or team as odd and they have found their way to be the pair they’d like. Of course, Kiki is always going to be made to feel awkward about her height…tall people are. However, this volume, it is Michiru who opens up about her own discomfort when anyone calls her “cute.” An early experience with a creep has left her with a feeling of violation when people use that word. And her desire is to not be small, or “cute,” but in control.
The pressure mounts as the trials arrive. The teacher at summer camp asks everyone this crucial question, “What message are you trying to send to the people watching you dance?” These young women don’t have passions to translate into a tango other than the passion for dancing – so, how do they find their place as a pair? Michiru and Kiki decide to pretend to be lovers, in order to discover the message they want to send.
And the first trial is upon them…but they do not win. As vexing as that is, it brings them closer. And as they pretend, to be lovers, Michiru realizes that her feeling for Kiki are definitely headed in that direction.
This is the manga I most want to be licensed right now. It’s not flashy like other popular social media-based manga, but I love it and would love for you to be able to read it. The art is lovely, the emotions are relatable and not cloying. And yeah, I want to see Michiru and Kiki kill it in the Quadrille!
Ratings:
Art – 9
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Yuri – 4
Service – 0 Still no and it’s so refreshing and lovely
Overall – 9
I’m so in on this manga. Kiki is her beautiful dress, Michiru in tux and the Quadrille. I cannot wait.
