A few weeks ago, I reviewed HabuCore F, the 10-years-later epilogue to Hayate x Blade (はやて×ブレード), which I described as “a gonzo battle/school manga series.” I really meant “one of the greatest gonzo battle/school manga series ever written.” Today, I am about to revisit the other.
Hana no Asuka-gumi is the other greatest gonzo battle/school manga series ever written. Where HxB is hilarious and everyone is an idiot is the most delightful ways, in Hana no Asuka-gumi, everyone is deadly serious. Hardly anyone ever smiles. To remember where we were, and why I was screaming at a volume of manga, please go back and read my review of Volume 7. It is critical that you understand that I began this volume in mid-scream.
Hana no Asuka-gumi Infinity, Volume 8 (花のあすか組 ∞インフィニティ ) begins with former Area Master Kanae having completely broken Asuka’s cool (something that never happens, but happened twice last volume) by appearing to look like the dead and gone love of Asuka’s life, Yohko. It throws Asuka off a notch and….she loses a fight.
For reasons, Kanae lies and tells everyone that Asuka won. Asuka is, finally, done. She’s done with being the target of Hibari-sama’s gangs and all her little weird groups and she tired of seeing decent kids ruining their lives. So she decides to face Hibari-sama and peace out of the Zenchuu Ura’s bullshit, at last.
The cover image you see, is the costume Asuka is dressed in when she faces Hibari-sama for what Asuka expects to the be the last time.
Hibari-sama, enraged at Asuka’s refusal to come back to her, still, slaps Asuka across the face with her fan. Asuka gets to walk away, but she does manage to kick the shit out of Kurenai on her way out. Snort.
This is the whackest love triangle ever. A 14-year old warlord, the 16-year old empress of the girl gangs of Tokyo and a dead two-bit teenaged criminal who talks to Asuka from the great beyond. Asuka walks away, still done.
Ratings:
Overall – 9
The School Wars are over, but the Battle of the deities has begun and undoubtedly, Asuka will be at the center of it, once again. One more volume to go.
I’m on Team Dead Yohko.
