Fujishiro Nanaki, having been ostracized by her group of fashionable and popular girls, has found acceptance with the “nerd” group, Kurokawa’s friends Izumi and Iroha. Together they are on the school trip. As we established last volume, we might have expected Kurokawa and Fujishiro to have had the tension between them explored, but as they aren’t in the same room. We instead are, like Fujishiro, side-lined by a sudden confession in Dekisokonai Hime-tachi, Volume 4.

In discussing this series with the lovely folks on the Okazu Discord, I gained a lot of good perspective. And, to be very honest, I needed it, because I am having a very hard time caring about the characters of this school-life drama by Ajiichi. So when the consensus was that this series felt like an “antagonistic GIRL FRIENDS,” as farfetched put it, I felt validated. Also, I know this is petty, but I am now done with the color coded naming scheme. In any case, I really appreciated having had the conversation! If you want to talk out your deep feelings about a Yuri manga, drop by our Discord and have at it! Okazu Patrons have a room of their own, where you can make suggestions and ask questions of me ^_^

On the positive side – every volume has had one really excellent conversation that has kept me coming back to this series. Kurokawa explaining how their lives were too different to reconcile, Fujishiro confronting the teacher, then standing up to her “friends.”  In this volume a confession leads to a brief conversation about LGBTQ people, and ultimately to acceptance. If Nanaki is a little confused or awkward, we can give her the benefit of the doubt, as Izumi does, for trying.

Kurokawa’s relegated to the position of supporting role in this volume, for which the volume suffered. Fujishiro is a fine character, but if there is any energy at all, it is the two of them playing off one another.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 7
Service – 6
LGBTQ – 6

Overall – 7

You’ll be getting this volume of Failed Princesses, Volume 4, in August, and Volume 5 of Dekisokonai Hime-tachi (できそこないの姫君たち) is already on Japanese bookstore shelves. I know already that the next volume simply adds another plot complication to the mix, which sure, keeps the series going, but I kinda want at least one important thing to resolve, or at least, be addressed,  before we move on.

You know how you feel after you’ve had a fever, when the fever breaks and you’re soaked in sweat? You don’t feel “good,” per se, but you feel better, somehow. Tsukiatte Agetemo Iikana, Volume 6  (付き合ってあげてもいいかな) by Tamifull, feels exactly like that, particularly after Volume 5.

Many things have happened to Miwa and Saeko since they met in Volume 1. Some good, some bad, some weird, but overall the story has not been about them as a couple but been about their growth as people by means of their relationship. This sounds complicated, but this story is complicated – and I like it best when it doesn’t shy from those complications.

Here in Volume 6, neither Miwa nor Saeko are the people they were. In my opinion as both a reader and a writer, this is the absolute best thing I’ve seen. It’s less like a manga, and way more like a story someone you know might tell you, in dribs and drabs over many conversations.

By now, Tamifull’s art is confident and the characters are finding themselves, as well. I don’t know – can’t, and wouldn’t want to guess – what is in store for these characters…which is exactly what will bring me back for future volumes. As a romance story, there’s only so much I can look forward to. As a “coming of age” story that isn’t about puberty, but about becoming fully formed adult individuals, people with experiences and desires and drives to do things that exceed school and romance, I’m all in.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8 Thing are changing.
Characters – 8 Rooting for them more, now
Yuri – 7
Service – 5

Overall – 8

I love that the cover design shifted for Volume 5. It suggests a shift in the story, a shift I welcome.  Also check out the difference in the cover art between Volume 1 and now. What a fantastic leveling up.

Volume 3 of How Do We Relationship? will be hitting shelves in a few weeks and I for one cannot *wait* for you all to read it. I want to real talk about this series and don’t want to spoil anything. ^_^

The life of an employee in Human Resources is a never-ending push for making things better, at least according to Yuni’s Hitogoto Desukara, Volume 3 (ヒトゴトですか)ら!

This whole series has presented a pretty idealized version of HR, to be fair, and the main handwave we must accept to make this series work is that HR is there for the betterment of the employees’ experience. Once you accept that, business becomes a fun, challenging set of individual and group situations that HR is called upon in order to improve. In this volume, HR addresses issues like a woman who is a working mother and the team called upon to do a major business description project that will vastly improve employee experience!

I’ve worked in the corporate world my entire adult life – I am looking around the room here with a dry expression. 

On a more personal level, both Komori and and Yamanobe are called upon to take a test for leadership roles and Yamanobe directly is asked by her manager if she is interested in a manager position. Certainly, from what we’ve seen she’s more than capable, but not only does she say no, she seems to be in some crisis about it. Rumors fly – is Yamanobe taking a new job? Is she transferring? No, it turns out that cool, competent Yamanobe has commonplace imposter syndrome, oh no!

Interestingly, in the final pages, Komori confesses to a colleague that’s she got a date with a sex friend. Yamanobe is pretty taken aback that she was so blunt. But having taken control of their lives and determined to make an impact, we finish the series as we began it, Komori and Yamanobe with attractive female partners on their arm, at the same love hotel at the same time. Bwah-wa-waaaa~~.

I love Yuni’s art and characters. The business speak of the company and the handwave that HR is supposed to be a resource to support the employees, ended up giving the story more of a comedic feel than I am sure it was meant to. ^_^ You’ll forgive me if I can’t take a new business description as being a life-changing improvement for an on overworked mother. But I do actually like the enthusiasm the characters have for their jobs, and the random bits of business jargon that are so preciously explained. ^_^

Ultimately, its Komori and Yamanobe who keep bringing me back to this story.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Characters – 9
Story – 7
Service – 1 Not…really, a brief non-explicit bed scene for Komori
Yuri – 8 Two definitely queer women, one who is getting a little outer by the end.

Overall – 8

This series is officially licensed in English by Manga Planet and is available in print on Amazon JP, CD Japan and and digital on Bookwalker, where it appears to be on sale for half price right now. If you’ve worked in a big company, Hitogoto Desukara! will give you a new, Yurier, perspective on office life. ^_^