Nakatani Nio

I really love that we got the backstory of the teacher and her partner!

Also, I loved the chapter – 36, I think it was –, where Sayaka and Kodoma-san hung out together at a café. I really love these type of mature friendships between an adult and a student.

As for the parts that talked about love, the romantic version in particular, were quite nice as well. It's always interesting to hear everyone's meaning of love.
Also, I think Miko-kun is officially aro/ace, or both. There weren't any show more labels thrown in, but he said it himself, that he's perfectly fine with just watching everyone being in love, and also that's what makes Yuu and him different. He didn't say it in a negative way or that he might be jealous of her. Quite the opposite. So yea, I love that kinda representation, especially for a male character.

At first, when Sayaka planned to confess to Touko at the trip, I was like: "no, don't do it". But at the end, I'm actually glad she did. She got closure herself, even though Touko rejected her. Now she can move on. I'm happy for her, really.

Honestly, the manga could've just ended here. I like that everyone confessed but got closure with rejections and can move on. That wasn't the point of the author though, so of course she wouldn't end it here. Especially because the covers with Yuu & Touko on them, would've been kinda clickbait... Well, I just love open, bittersweet endings like these. Everyone tried out what they wanted to try, and they figured themselves out. No need to go deeper, imo.
Maybe also because I still don't see much chemistry between Yuu and Touko... If I were to continue the story, I would make them part for good. Stay friends if they want, but not really as lovers.
What they had was nice for both of them, because each was able to figure themselves out, but there's no need to hold onto that. I don't think this could work out (if they were real people, and not controlled by the author).
Maybe let them meet again when they're older or something? I think that could work perfectly. I know it's not gonna happen, but let a reader have their hopes.

I'm also not really a fan of Akira and Doujima. Just because I loved how he got mad at her crush when he lied to her, doesn't mean they should just get together.
Why can't people just be friends, when they're nice to each other? Why does kindness always have to be confused with romantic/sexual intentions? Sigh.
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my wife started a yuri bookclub and this was the first thing we read for it. i've seen the bloom into you anime but not read the manga, so i had plenty of context for the character but seeing things from her perspective obviously made a pretty big difference. i also feel like if i rewatched the anime now, i would see this character much differently because at times in the anime she's a borerline antagonist (though i wouldn't say the anime completely fails to sympathize with her by any show more stretch of the imagination).

i also don't want to give the impression that this book merely fills in some details about a secondary character from the main series. it can absolutely be read completely as a standalone story, and a damn well-written one at that. it deals with how messy same-sex attraction can get in an environment that doesn't exactly support or encourage it as a valid kind of relationship to pursue. which isn't to say there's any hardcore depictions of homophobia in this book, moreso characters imperfectly groping towards an understanding of themselves and the kinds of relationships they want, and causing plenty of hurt feelings in the process. show less

Ooh, my new city's library has the concluding volumes of this sweet romance. First up, we finally have the fuuuuuuulllll performance of the long-gestating play, which is just too, too on the nose, but it serves its purpose, launching us into the finale with increased momentum.

Penultimate book tomorrow!

So, I said in the previous volume review, that I'd prefer for them not to come together. And while my idea could've still been good, I do like this ending too. Since I love romance stories that don't have drama or not much in them. This was relaxed and happy, just how I like it.
I did find the sleepover a bit too rushed, though. Not the sleepover itself, but what happened there... I don't know, Yuu just seems so much like a child, I think it was just too soon, ya know?

But overall it was good. show more Sayaka-senpai got her happy ending, too. And so did Koyomi, with publishing her book. Really happy for her, specially! Also, Kodoma-san got to expand her café like she dreamed to.
Not very happy about Akira and Doujima though, but I guess it was pretty obvious... at least Miko-kun stayed the same.

Well, it was a nice ride, in the end. Binged it in under 2 days. Now off to watch the anime. See ya! show less