In Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna, Volume 6 (作りたい女と食べたい女), by Yuzaki Sakaome, the story shifts just a little bit. Up until now, it has been primarily about food (and, in Sena’s case, eating) with side quests into identity, consent, boundaries at work, in private and in public. Much as all of us in real life do, Nomoto and Kasuga have had to rethink and renegotiate with themselves who they say what to, and what the terms they might use are. 

Here in Volume 6, Nomoto comes out semi-publicly, online. I say “semi” because, while I 100% believe that parasocial relationship can be (or become) “real” relationships, and online friends are as real as school or work friends, there is still a gap between online life and in person life, for most people. If you come out online, people know that that nickname and avatar is out…but depending on how much you share online, there may not be a connection to the person who goes in to an office every day. I remember very clearly the day I began the Yuricon community, I discussed with my wife that I planned on being out from the beginning and, by association, she would be too.  We were out to our families and workplaces, so it was not much of a risk, but there is always a potential risk when people suddenly realize they were wrong about anything.

Nomoto comes out online and is met with both support and the incredible, yet predictable wave of “I only followed you for the food, wtf is this?” Dear friends, who the fuck care if you only followed for one reason or another? Fine, go away. Bye. /eyeroll/ Nomoto and Kasuga discuss the feelings this engenders, and Nomoto is convinced she did the right thing.

We then turn toward Nagumo, who has found a real friend and supporter in Yako. As Sena looks outside herself for the first time, she see that she is surrounded by women who are coming to know themselves better and she starts, maybe for the first time, to ask who, and what, she may be. Kaname patiently walks her through various ways of thinking about her gender and sexuality, until Sena discovers idea and words that work for her.

Finally, we turn towards Kasuga, who feel that she failed her own test on Valentine’s Day, when she was unable to admit that the chocolates were for her girlfriend. Of course Nomoto sympathized, but this is for her. Kasuga boldly goes into a florist, orders a simple flower and when asked if this is for a friend, takes the huge, terrifying step of saying “It’ for my girlfriend” out loud to someone. Of course we grin hugely and applaud!

Each one of our found family here is changing before our eyes. They are all growing out of the small selves they thought they needed to be, to embrace their truest selves. And, of course, they are eating delicious food while doing that!

Ratings:

Art – 7 There are moments that still feel rushed
Story – 10
Characters – 10
Service – YMMV, but in my opinion 0
LGBTQ+ – 10

Overall – 10

In a world that can feel dark if we let other people’s negativity drag us down, Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna, Volume 6 is a reminder that we *can* and *should* make our own light.

Volume 6 is only recently out in Japan, there is no English edition release date yet, but I’ll put it on the Yuricon Store as soon as I see one. ^_^