by Sandy Ferguson, Guest Reviewer

In Volume 13 of Otherside Picnic, we have the whole version of ‘Pandora in the Next Room’, the opening to ‘Hot Springs Invitation’ and Kozakura’s rebuttal story, ‘Packing as the Night Deepens’.

Initially in this volume it seems we are having a pause from the action of the previous volumes.  Pandora in the Next Room is a fascinating story, with either the subtitle of Sorawo’s slice of life or the adventures of Sorawo the Introvert. But for Sorawo, slice of life also means the Otherside which intrudes on Sorawo’s domestic peace through her neighbour in Unit 103 in her apartment complex. This interference leads to the further adventures of Sorawo the Introvert who is so rattled by this Otherside presence she becomes a reluctant houseguest, first with Akari and Natsun, then Kozakura.

To no-one’s surprise Sorawo finds being a houseguest to be almost as frightening as the Otherside.
After some uncomfortable third-wheeling with Akari and Natsun, Sorawo’s next adventure is with Kozakura.  They have an important conversation with Sorawo discussing her future and the Otherside.  Kozakura responds with her concerns, as well as her hopes that she could keep Sorawo and Toriko rooted in this world and not lost to the Otherside, in other words she doesn’t want them to follow Satsuki’s path.
Then Toriko turns up, and you can guess her mood considering that Sorawo had been asking everyone but her for help…

Sorawo has two explanations for this. One on the surface is her concern for Toriko’s school work.  The other is based on her belief that like her Toriko would want to keep her home safe, and Sorawo doesn’t want to bring her troubles into Toriko’s home. But, when much to Sorawo’s chagrin, Toriko accepts her invitation to spend the night at Sorawo’s place, Sorawo is like, what just happened here?

Now that the accomplices are together it is time to take out the trash from 103.  Once Sorawo’s domestic bliss has been restored, there is the inevitable after-party.

We begin ‘Hot Springs Invitation’ with a generous offer from Kozakura to Sorawo and Toriko, an offer that leads to ‘accomplice panic’, the offer is two free tickets to a Hot Spring. The panic is caused by Sorawo and Toriko when due to the revelation of a big cultural difference when Toriko mentions they will need to buy swimsuits, leading to Sorawo’s confusion when she answers that there is no need to do so, as they will be nude. “Hot spring culture in Canada is different from that of Japan.” I confess I was tickled pink at this moment, as ‘I got that reference’ as I lived near the Radium Hot Springs in British Columbia for a few years and enjoyed them, and yes bathing suits/swimming trunks were mandatory

This leads to a glimpse of the ongoing process of Sorawo and Toriko trying to understand the nature of their relationship, and the challenge to face their own issues the relationship exposes. So, in their accomplice panic Sorawo and Toriko come up with a solution, invite Kozakura to join them. Kozakura is annoyed, this was not part of the plan, but eventually she accepts her fate. On the trip to the hot springs Sorawo continues to process what lies ahead for them, and shares her anxiety with us as we will join them at the hot springs in Volume 14.

With ‘Packing as the Night Deepens’ I appreciate that these bonus stories do such a good job in exploring Kozakura as a character, especially when it comes to her relationships with Toriko and Sorawo.  While dealing with her frustrations that Sorawo and Toriko are dragging her along to the hot springs, she reflects on how these relationships have developed.  And in doing so, she comes to an unexpected conclusion.

Ratings: 

Story – 9 An interesting combination of slice and life and horror.
Artwork – 9 The artwork is excellent in conveying both the slice of life nature of this volume as well as the terrors of Apt. 103
Character – 9 As Sorawo struggles with the various relationships in this volume, we see more of what makes Sorawo tick.
Service – 9 An interesting moment as Sorawo tends to a wound on Toriko’s ‘Otherside’ hand.
Yuri – 8 At this point it looks like Akira and Natsun are in the lead, maybe the hot pools will change things?

Overall – 9