Quite possibly my favorite Hana-Kimi volume in a long time! Sano and Mizuki both are coming so far and it makes me really excited. I loved the whole photoshoot plot, if only because I have a soft spot for cosplay and dressup. I also really like Ebi, and she and Mizuki have a really cute friendship going on. I really hope all the photography stuff isn't gone forever.

The introduction of a new plot at the end really has me interested too. Can't wait to read volume 11!

Oh, and let's not forget the Umeda paperdolls. That quite possibly makes this the best thing ever. ( )

The modeling adventures continue. The story still failed to grab me, but the art work was a lot of fun. Since Ashiya is determined to be a model for Akiha, Sano agrees to come along as well; as he says to himself, he'd rather be near her than wondering about what trouble she is in. Most of the volume consists of the photo shoot. We do have some cute moments: Akiha makes Sano and Nanba look intimate in their duo shots, which they hate, and Sano and Mizuki get private pictures that Akiha took of them together, and both think that the photo reveals their true feelings for the other. Another positive side effect of this plot is that Akiha is around through most of the book, and I like this character. A minor plot snarl develops when a jealous model tries to destroy the kids' photo shoot film, but it was so inconsequential that I don't know why the book even needed it. This story arc wraps up with the release of the clothing line ads. Akiha ensured that the students' names and addresses are suppressed, so while Ashiya and Sano see their many admirers, they aren't harassed at school. Then, as the collections is nearing its close, it introduces a new arc that was much more interesting to me. Io, Umeda's sister, forces him to clean out a house for her, and he forces Ashiya and her friends to do the work for him. A normal, dull chore - until a ghost shows up with an unusual interest in Mizuki. Yay, a haunted house! This plot device may be over done, but I still like it. Just when things are getting interesting, the book ends. This volume is just average in story, but I give it an extra half star because of Akiha, the fun art drawn for the photo shoot, and the introduction of the haunted house. ( )