What do you think?
Rate this book
S・A（スペシャル・エー）[Special A] #8
Special A, Vol. 8
Ulang tahun Kei segera tiba! Hikari bingung harus memberi hadiah apa kepada Kei. Dia sudah berusaha membuat kandang anjing, syal dan baju... namun semuanya gagal! Akhirnya dia pun minta bantuan Aoi-san agar bisa menyusup dan melihat hadiah apa yang cocok untuk Kei.
210 pages
First published November 25, 2006
7 people are currently reading
437 people want to read
About the author
Maki Minami
62 books266 followersMaki Minami ( 南マキ) is a Japanese manga author. She is best known as the author of manga series Special A.
In 2001, her short story Day Dream Believer (デイ・ドリーム・ビリーバー) received an Honourable Mention for Hakusensha's 25th Athena awards. She debuted in Hana to Yume's October 2001 issue with a short story titled Faraway Blue (彼方の青 Kanata no Ao).
Maki Minami's longest running series, Special A, began publication in 2003 and recently ended in 2009. Her current series, Seiyū ka-! began serialization in Hana to Yume in 2009, after the completion of Special A. Her recent works also include the oneshot Ane☆Mone Seikaten (アネ☆モネ 生花店), which appeared in the April 2009 edition of The Hana to Yume.
In 2001, her short story Day Dream Believer (デイ・ドリーム・ビリーバー) received an Honourable Mention for Hakusensha's 25th Athena awards. She debuted in Hana to Yume's October 2001 issue with a short story titled Faraway Blue (彼方の青 Kanata no Ao).
Maki Minami's longest running series, Special A, began publication in 2003 and recently ended in 2009. Her current series, Seiyū ka-! began serialization in Hana to Yume in 2009, after the completion of Special A. Her recent works also include the oneshot Ane☆Mone Seikaten (アネ☆モネ 生花店), which appeared in the April 2009 edition of The Hana to Yume.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 14, 2023
I just realized that part of my issue with manga comedy is that ideally, comedy should work by playing the personalities of the characters off each other. With seven characters in the main cast, and a decent handful of major secondary characters, Special A should have plenty of ways to mix things up without entirely depending on "will they, or won't they" romance.
All too often, though, we get situations where a character's personality is completely changed instead. This happens in the first two episodes of this volume: first with Jun looking into Sakura's eyes and wildly flopping between shy boy and playboy, and then with Hikari accidentally getting drunk on a bottle of plum sake and hanging all over Kei. (This has also happened at least twice in previous volumes when she was ill or succumbed to exhaustion.)
I guess that's why I hate tropes like "hypnosis" so much. If you can't rely on your characters as they are to keep the fun going, then there's a problem. The rest of of the volume does better at that, to be honest. This review is more thinking about why certain comedy staples don't work for me, and that was only a factor in those first two episodes. The rest was just fine, and I do think that at least some of this cast has what it takes to keep things lively for another nine volumes.
ETA: every time I think about continuing and/or finishing this series, I feel far more ennui than excitement, so I'll call it here. Every genre has its tropes, and I've never been particularly in tune with shoujo comedy's. Every single title along these lines has made its way to the used bookstore box without my finishing it, and without the slightest pang of regret. This one is no exception.
As long as I'm here grumbling about how shoujo comedy doesn't work for me, here is a list of all the shoujo comedy titles I can think of, that I've started and not finished. There may be more, but this at least should demonstrate that I'm not dismissing the genre for good without having given it a fair chance. It joins "secondary world" fantasy as a manga genre that just does not work for me. I've enjoyed the anime versions of the ones with an asterisk (*).
Ouran High School Host Club*
Ore-sama Teacher
Maid-sama!*
Here is Greenwood*
Itazura na Kiss
Special A
All too often, though, we get situations where a character's personality is completely changed instead. This happens in the first two episodes of this volume: first with Jun looking into Sakura's eyes and wildly flopping between shy boy and playboy, and then with Hikari accidentally getting drunk on a bottle of plum sake and hanging all over Kei. (This has also happened at least twice in previous volumes when she was ill or succumbed to exhaustion.)
I guess that's why I hate tropes like "hypnosis" so much. If you can't rely on your characters as they are to keep the fun going, then there's a problem. The rest of of the volume does better at that, to be honest. This review is more thinking about why certain comedy staples don't work for me, and that was only a factor in those first two episodes. The rest was just fine, and I do think that at least some of this cast has what it takes to keep things lively for another nine volumes.
ETA: every time I think about continuing and/or finishing this series, I feel far more ennui than excitement, so I'll call it here. Every genre has its tropes, and I've never been particularly in tune with shoujo comedy's. Every single title along these lines has made its way to the used bookstore box without my finishing it, and without the slightest pang of regret. This one is no exception.
As long as I'm here grumbling about how shoujo comedy doesn't work for me, here is a list of all the shoujo comedy titles I can think of, that I've started and not finished. There may be more, but this at least should demonstrate that I'm not dismissing the genre for good without having given it a fair chance. It joins "secondary world" fantasy as a manga genre that just does not work for me. I've enjoyed the anime versions of the ones with an asterisk (*).
Ouran High School Host Club*
Ore-sama Teacher
Maid-sama!*
Here is Greenwood*
Itazura na Kiss
Special A
July 28, 2020
Jun & sakura moment, Megumi & Yahiro moment, Yahiro & hikari moment plus hikari & Kei moment. I think I kinda grow to like kei & Hikari moment - there are funny plus doing idiots things. Kei's birthday again 🙂, I remembered his birthday in manga volume 1 if I remembered correctly when kei's cousin was there. Is there someone's birthday beside kei like hikari n the others too. Tadashi is cute,
yahiro - beginning to like him even though he still like Akira n he knows Akira love tadashi. Ryu - when he will get girlfriend? Hikari got drunk n searched for takashima- I laugh at that part when takashima scare hikari when hikari was drunk.
yahiro - beginning to like him even though he still like Akira n he knows Akira love tadashi. Ryu - when he will get girlfriend? Hikari got drunk n searched for takashima- I laugh at that part when takashima scare hikari when hikari was drunk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2020
Nel volume 8 mi è piaciuto molto il modo di disegnare e soprattutto l’espressione facciale di Kei quando Hikari sta male e gli dice che le piace e anche quando lei gli porta un regalo di compleanno travestita da coniglio.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2017
Another good volume.
September 29, 2019
Another great and fun to read volume! I'm loving these characters as we get to know them better.
October 8, 2020
Pretty good and cute school life manga, pretty decent story and love the characters and art style👌😁😻❤️
June 23, 2021
Hahaha I LOVE drunk Hikari (but I don’t condone minors drinking of course!!!)
March 16, 2025
3,75/5
7,5/10
7,5/10
July 24, 2025
4.5
I love me a good birthday chapter!!!
I love me a good birthday chapter!!!
June 24, 2014
Come check out my book blog! Teenage Bookaholic
SYNOPSIS: *Please note that this is a review for the entire series, comprised of 17 books*
Hikari Hanazono is not your typical high school girl. While she comes from a modest background, she strives to do her best at anything and everything to top her rival. After losing an impromptu wrestling match as a child, Hikari made it her life's goal to beat Kei Takishima, a wealthy child who is destined to work for the family business, any way possible. She is so determined, she enrolled in the same elite private school as Kei, and worked her way to be number 2 out of not just her class, but the entire school, making her a part of an elite group of 7 called Special A. For Hikari, it's not enough, as Kei is sitting pretty as number 1.
With her friends, Akira, Megumi, Jun, Tadashi, and Ryu along for the ride, Special A follows the comedic adventures of the top 7 students at Hakusenkan High- as Kei is forced to work for the family business, as Jun learns to love, as Megumi finds her voice, as Ryu discovers the hidden face of love, as Tadashi opens up, and as Hikari continues to fight for number 1!
REVIEW: Unlike YA novels, I do not know my favorite type of manga yet. I mostly pick manga based on what series has the first volume on my library's shelves.... It can be a hit or miss, but this was a hit.
Similar to Veronica Roth, the series has a fast pace to it, constantly creating new drama and plot twists that never let the series grow boring. Some things you could see coming, but others not so much. Either way, I was not bored, and the book did not have any prolonged focus on romances, which can be boring for me. The story was also relatable: a student striving for success with friend drama, as well as personal dramas.
With most manga, I have issue of telling characters apart; just when I think it's Person A talking, its Person R, a close look-a-like to Person A, and even when I can tell the characters apart (barely), I still cannot remember the long, authentic Japanese names. None of these issues came up in the series. Consistently, the series would use the formal last name AND informal first, which helped me remember the name as Hikari Hanazono, not Ms. Hanazono or just Hikari... something. Also, the art was very well done, allowing me to tell character differences by expression and hairstyle.
This leads me to the art, which was glorious! Much detail was taken in to the backgrounds (as pointed out by Minami in her novels), and outfits. I also enjoyed the sporadic and roaming quarter pages of commentary. How she talks about a pseudo burglary at her place while the gang is in some sort of peril added a sense of nonchalance that fit the series. It's about the adventure these characters take, rather than following the emotion of the drama.
While this all sounds like a great series, a few elements ruined the series for me. First was the panel styling. Many of the panels were overlapping, which led to a choppy flow of reading. Incredibly distracting and confusing, which stole from enjoying the series. Second, the focus could have been turned more towards other characters in the series. It is titled Special A, but the story mainly focuses on Hikari and Kei. I personally would have liked to learn more about what happened to Ryu and his lover before the conclusion, or whether Akira and her old friend could get along. It had more chapters on Hikari and Kei than any one S.A. member. Lastly, I was not a fan of outside girls, interfering with Kei and Hikari. I am not saying I was protective of Kei and Hikari, but I found it rather obnoxious. It was framed like the S.A. were a special elite group, which they were, and everyone else, who wasn't rich at least, was an outsider to the group. It was like the author had to put the characters on a pedestal to make the series work, which wasn't necessary. It seemed almost like the group was discriminatory towards anyone not of wealth, and when I say discriminatory, i mean they behaved like elitists rather than hateful. Hikari was an exception from an early age, mind you.
All in all, Special A was a comedic read that was pleasurable and realistic. It had good momentum until the end, and was interesting to see how the schooling system works in Japan. I would give it more stars if not for the misleading paneling.
I will now conclude with my favorite quote from page 10 of volume 12:
"Ryu: YOU DON'T GET TO PICK! And why a mountain?!!
Tadashi: A MOUNTAIN WOULD BE ANY GUY'S DREAM!!
Ryu: Go eat a s'more.
Tadashi: That's amore.
Ryu: Mahjongg!
Tadashi: GAME!"
SYNOPSIS: *Please note that this is a review for the entire series, comprised of 17 books*
Hikari Hanazono is not your typical high school girl. While she comes from a modest background, she strives to do her best at anything and everything to top her rival. After losing an impromptu wrestling match as a child, Hikari made it her life's goal to beat Kei Takishima, a wealthy child who is destined to work for the family business, any way possible. She is so determined, she enrolled in the same elite private school as Kei, and worked her way to be number 2 out of not just her class, but the entire school, making her a part of an elite group of 7 called Special A. For Hikari, it's not enough, as Kei is sitting pretty as number 1.
With her friends, Akira, Megumi, Jun, Tadashi, and Ryu along for the ride, Special A follows the comedic adventures of the top 7 students at Hakusenkan High- as Kei is forced to work for the family business, as Jun learns to love, as Megumi finds her voice, as Ryu discovers the hidden face of love, as Tadashi opens up, and as Hikari continues to fight for number 1!
REVIEW: Unlike YA novels, I do not know my favorite type of manga yet. I mostly pick manga based on what series has the first volume on my library's shelves.... It can be a hit or miss, but this was a hit.
Similar to Veronica Roth, the series has a fast pace to it, constantly creating new drama and plot twists that never let the series grow boring. Some things you could see coming, but others not so much. Either way, I was not bored, and the book did not have any prolonged focus on romances, which can be boring for me. The story was also relatable: a student striving for success with friend drama, as well as personal dramas.
With most manga, I have issue of telling characters apart; just when I think it's Person A talking, its Person R, a close look-a-like to Person A, and even when I can tell the characters apart (barely), I still cannot remember the long, authentic Japanese names. None of these issues came up in the series. Consistently, the series would use the formal last name AND informal first, which helped me remember the name as Hikari Hanazono, not Ms. Hanazono or just Hikari... something. Also, the art was very well done, allowing me to tell character differences by expression and hairstyle.
This leads me to the art, which was glorious! Much detail was taken in to the backgrounds (as pointed out by Minami in her novels), and outfits. I also enjoyed the sporadic and roaming quarter pages of commentary. How she talks about a pseudo burglary at her place while the gang is in some sort of peril added a sense of nonchalance that fit the series. It's about the adventure these characters take, rather than following the emotion of the drama.
While this all sounds like a great series, a few elements ruined the series for me. First was the panel styling. Many of the panels were overlapping, which led to a choppy flow of reading. Incredibly distracting and confusing, which stole from enjoying the series. Second, the focus could have been turned more towards other characters in the series. It is titled Special A, but the story mainly focuses on Hikari and Kei. I personally would have liked to learn more about what happened to Ryu and his lover before the conclusion, or whether Akira and her old friend could get along. It had more chapters on Hikari and Kei than any one S.A. member. Lastly, I was not a fan of outside girls, interfering with Kei and Hikari. I am not saying I was protective of Kei and Hikari, but I found it rather obnoxious. It was framed like the S.A. were a special elite group, which they were, and everyone else, who wasn't rich at least, was an outsider to the group. It was like the author had to put the characters on a pedestal to make the series work, which wasn't necessary. It seemed almost like the group was discriminatory towards anyone not of wealth, and when I say discriminatory, i mean they behaved like elitists rather than hateful. Hikari was an exception from an early age, mind you.
All in all, Special A was a comedic read that was pleasurable and realistic. It had good momentum until the end, and was interesting to see how the schooling system works in Japan. I would give it more stars if not for the misleading paneling.
I will now conclude with my favorite quote from page 10 of volume 12:
"Ryu: YOU DON'T GET TO PICK! And why a mountain?!!
Tadashi: A MOUNTAIN WOULD BE ANY GUY'S DREAM!!
Ryu: Go eat a s'more.
Tadashi: That's amore.
Ryu: Mahjongg!
Tadashi: GAME!"
February 15, 2011
I love Tadashi!!! He is my favourite character!!!!!!!!
Tadashi ♥♥♥ :D
So this review is for the overall series. I give the overall series 5 stars because it was raelly good.
Funny at times, romantic at times, cute at times, sad at times. Also, I really loved the art (It's true! I have some saved pictures from things in the book.)
I would like to say that Hikari is SOOOOOOOO dense. I mean like crazy. I'm not even joking. I'm not going to tell you why but I want to say that when she said that and Takishima was all surprised and some-what happy but then she said something else, I was like in my head, "Wow. She is just so... wow."
One thing I rally love in this book is how Megumi and Jun love Ryuu. It is just so entertaining watching them hug Ryuu. Be protective of you. Huh, it was so cute it was hilarious.
I find it very surprising what Finn is. I was like "HOLY SHIAT!" in the book when I found out. And then with Ryuu and then Hikari. LOL. I hate Finn's father for a reason you will find out if you read the books. :D
I'm not sure if you care but. in this manga there is this one picture of Takishimi and Hikari that I just love to stare at. It looks very nice and I love it for some reason. I even hang it up in my room. I'm such a loser.
I like Megumi's name. I like the fact that she can sing so good that it is dangerous. I also love how she writes down what she wants to say.
Takishima in the manga I like; not so much in the anime. This is probably because in the anime, Takishimi has brown hair a kinda really deep voice and is really thin and lanky (most of the characters in the manga are thin and lanky. :P. In the manga, Takishimi has blond hair, I imagine him with a slighter higher voice and he isn't that thin and lanky. Anyway....
Miss Number Too. I love how Takishima always finds a way to be number one. Like that one test when he got 105%. LAWLS!
So here's what I thought of the book. It was really good. Funny, romantic(in a weird way?) and entertaining. Even thoguh it is Shoujo, I think everyone should read it. :D
Tadashi ♥♥♥ :D
So this review is for the overall series. I give the overall series 5 stars because it was raelly good.
Funny at times, romantic at times, cute at times, sad at times. Also, I really loved the art (It's true! I have some saved pictures from things in the book.)
I would like to say that Hikari is SOOOOOOOO dense. I mean like crazy. I'm not even joking. I'm not going to tell you why but I want to say that when she said that and Takishima was all surprised and some-what happy but then she said something else, I was like in my head, "Wow. She is just so... wow."
One thing I rally love in this book is how Megumi and Jun love Ryuu. It is just so entertaining watching them hug Ryuu. Be protective of you. Huh, it was so cute it was hilarious.
I find it very surprising what Finn is. I was like "HOLY SHIAT!" in the book when I found out. And then with Ryuu and then Hikari. LOL. I hate Finn's father for a reason you will find out if you read the books. :D
I'm not sure if you care but. in this manga there is this one picture of Takishimi and Hikari that I just love to stare at. It looks very nice and I love it for some reason. I even hang it up in my room. I'm such a loser.
I like Megumi's name. I like the fact that she can sing so good that it is dangerous. I also love how she writes down what she wants to say.
Takishima in the manga I like; not so much in the anime. This is probably because in the anime, Takishimi has brown hair a kinda really deep voice and is really thin and lanky (most of the characters in the manga are thin and lanky. :P. In the manga, Takishimi has blond hair, I imagine him with a slighter higher voice and he isn't that thin and lanky. Anyway....
Miss Number Too. I love how Takishima always finds a way to be number one. Like that one test when he got 105%. LAWLS!
So here's what I thought of the book. It was really good. Funny, romantic(in a weird way?) and entertaining. Even thoguh it is Shoujo, I think everyone should read it. :D
May 14, 2016
The rating and review are conclusion for all of the volumes. Except for the synopsis.
Okay, where do I begin? The first volume is not that bad. A bit like warming up. As the story goes on, it gets more interesting and funnier. I love the ending. It's totally cute!
It's good and I enjoy it! Totally worth giving it a try! :)
Synopsis for volume 8:
Hikari is going on a date with Kei! That's what Kei thought at first haha. It turns out that Hikari asks Jun and Sakura to join too. The situation changes into something else when Jun is avoiding Sakura. And he has changed into his inner self.
December 2, 2010
Note:This review is a series review, not really a volume specific review.
One of my favorite mangas. An excellent shoujo (meaning it is a comic aimed at teenage girls) story about Hikari whose life mission is to beat Kei. She goes to a very expensive school (one that her family can barely afford) for the sole purpose of trying to beat Kei. Poor Hikari is a clueless and loving girl who is always #2 in everything while Kei is #1. A good mix of drama, hilarity, and sweetness.
One of my favorite mangas. An excellent shoujo (meaning it is a comic aimed at teenage girls) story about Hikari whose life mission is to beat Kei. She goes to a very expensive school (one that her family can barely afford) for the sole purpose of trying to beat Kei. Poor Hikari is a clueless and loving girl who is always #2 in everything while Kei is #1. A good mix of drama, hilarity, and sweetness.
March 17, 2013
We are finally beginning to see the cast forming into noticeable couples. Kind of interesting seeing how these side stories also affect the primary storyline as well. Though the story is hilarious, we also get to see character development for the various characters, as well as what can be referred to as foreshadowing for future chapters. Loving it in spite of knowing that I am close to halfway through the entire story.
February 21, 2015
This series was amazing! Hikari and Kai's relationship is so comedic and heartwarming. I got through this series so fast and I just wanted to keep reading. All the characters are fun and this series is very entertaining.
If you liked Ouran High School Host Club I would recommend this series.
If you liked Ouran High School Host Club I would recommend this series.
September 21, 2014
Series Review: Special A is a interesting and cute manga that I really enjoyed. It was funny and entertaining plot and character wise. I most enjoyed the dynamic between the characters. I recommend giving this manga a try.
November 2, 2008
Hooray! The missing chapters were scanslated and this book can go on my read list! Thankies to VN_Vertigo and SpecialAScans for scanslating the missing chapters! :D
April 8, 2009
Good manga <3
December 29, 2025
Read/rated in grade school.
August 13, 2013
This series was hilarious! I found myself laughing out loud ever so often as I eagerly read the story. This author's work is just remarkable!
March 7, 2015
Hahaha I love the "Go Tadashi" bonus at the end. Poor Kei with his Grandfather and all... and Aoi with his ulcer... Love Hikari's present for him!
June 8, 2016
Kei's personality really amazes me. He's really gentle towards the girl he likes~ Really an ideal type!!
January 5, 2016
Me encanto este tomo, es amor <3
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews