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春待つ僕ら [Haru Matsu Bokura] #3
Waiting For Spring Vol. 3
COURTING ON THE COURT
Mitsuki overcomes some hiccups in her friendship with Towa, and the two grow even closer! But before Mitsuki can celebrate, her old friend Aya is on the offense, vying for her attention. Mitsuki meets a new rival as well, and every day is as busy as every play. Meanwhile, with the Inter-High prelims just around the corner, Towa and his team must train hard to go up against the prestigious Hōjō High School’s star-player: Aya!
Mitsuki overcomes some hiccups in her friendship with Towa, and the two grow even closer! But before Mitsuki can celebrate, her old friend Aya is on the offense, vying for her attention. Mitsuki meets a new rival as well, and every day is as busy as every play. Meanwhile, with the Inter-High prelims just around the corner, Towa and his team must train hard to go up against the prestigious Hōjō High School’s star-player: Aya!
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2015
127 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
August 25, 2022
THIS WAS SO FUNNY
December 29, 2017
A lot of shojo today feature protagonists that are telling their love interests STAHP fighting over me, and Mitsuki does the same in this series. Older shojo really made me want to bang my head against a wall over and over because the standard protagonist was so damned passive-and which led to me having a huge dislike for the genre until recently. Of course, there's nothing wrong with a different kind of strength, but most of these heroines from older shojo had NOTHING. They're just a means of wish ful-fillment. Nothing wrong with that either, but the way it was handled was. Romanticized abuse, romanticized rape, you name it....
Thankfully, this trend seems to be falling out in favor of heroines who speak their minds. However, a lot of Western audiences may find a lot of Japanese heroines too passive still, simply because that is how the culture is, and manga over-exaggerates these traits for characters.
This is no great series, but it executes a very simple, healthy romance, and I enjoy that.
Thankfully, this trend seems to be falling out in favor of heroines who speak their minds. However, a lot of Western audiences may find a lot of Japanese heroines too passive still, simply because that is how the culture is, and manga over-exaggerates these traits for characters.
This is no great series, but it executes a very simple, healthy romance, and I enjoy that.
April 21, 2019
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
Mitsuki is a shy and socially awkward girl who struggled to make friends in middle school. Now as she enters high school she vows to make an ultimate friend! Towa, Kyosuke, Ryuji and Rui are the stars of the boys' basketball team and not what she was looking for, but after a huge misunderstanding they befriend Mitsuki... whether she wants them to or not! Add in an odd girl with her own ideas about this foursome and a long-haired guy who could give beauty queens a run for their money and we have Mitsuki's new high school life!
This is a review of volumes 3-4 which I read together back to back. See the plot section for my thoughts on the individual volumes.
Waiting for Spring vol 3-4 is about the end of the boy's basketball season. They go up for the semi-finals in their bracket... these are very important games and Mitsuki wants to support them. Particularly Towa who has shared how important basketball is to him. She is such a nervous Nelly wondering what she can do for him that it makes for some pretty funny situations. Aya isn't giving up either... he had a connection just as deep with Mitsuki at one point. By the end we find that Mitsuki stills feels for him as well... we just don't know if its romantically as he wants. We also have the group come together for some fun time! I love these group sessions, it makes for some real high school life!
In volume 3 we meet a new girl Maki Sudo, who is also in basketball but for the girls. She befriends Mitsuki and its actually a double edged sword that adds a lot of tension. Kyosuke plays a large role as he's witness to a little interaction between Mitsuki and Aya. He, more than anyone, realizes how Towa and Mitsuki feel about one another and he really enjoys pressing their buttons. Between these two events both Towa and Mitsuki are feeling really uncertain about what they mean to the other.
Then in volume 4 Aya and Reina meet for the first time. Let's just say that there are fireworks that makes things tense for Mitsuki! Towa and Aya also throw down some words as they will be meeting on the court if all goes well. Aya with his experience and obvious skill has some choice things to say about that and you start to worry that like any sports commentator worth his salt he may be right. I figured that we would get some upbeat group fun next and wasn't expecting Towa to get so aggressive with Mitsuki... and neither did his friends!
Really the excitement in Waiting for Spring vol 3-4 was super high and fun.
The moments between Towa and Mitsuki though are so subtle and breathtaking. It really is nuanced with the pains of young, new love. Little advances and tiny setbacks all work together to give us this budding love in Waiting for Spring vol 3-4. My favorite moment from vol 3 is when Mitsuki's wish comes true! I didn't even think about the implications of her wish until that moment... it was super fun and I felt my heart beating right along with her. In vol 4 it has to be the bathing suit realization! Both Towa and Mitsuki go there and can't handle what they imagine.
The visuals shine when the boys are on the court playing basketball! I felt the tension and the power of the crowd and events on the court. At the end of the games the art brought the boy's efforts and the score to a resounding crescendo. I also really enjoy the moments they are together as a group. in the cafe or out having fun, it didn't matter. Anashin sure knows how to bring a group together on the page. It's one of the best and most fun aspects of Waiting For Spring! This is about young love but its also about friendship and being in high school too.
Waiting for Spring vol 3-4 is the next natural step in a sports romance that is slow burn with a love triangle that makes total sense plus a coming of age where friends, a sports passion and an awkward girl combine for a shoujo manga that is fun and full of unexpected depth!! I will TOTALLY be checking out vol 5-6 next and see if Mitsuki can get Towa to take things to the next level...
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tension
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Art
This is a multi-volume series and there may be references to the plot of those volumes... SO READ WITH CARE! Here is my review of 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
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You can find this manga review and many others on my book blog every Monday @ Perspective of a Writer. See my manga and graphic novel reviews at the bottom of the page.
Please like this review if you enjoyed it! *bow* *bow* It helps me out a ton!!
October 18, 2021
Updated Review 10/17/21: THEY ARE SO PRECIOUS!!!!!
Original Review 7/19/20: I REALLY like Mitsuki! She is such a fantastic heroine and just love how she is standing up for herself slowly but surely! Toma is also really amazing and deeply appreciate how he encourages her and pushes her to grow every day. It's a beautiful thing they have unfolding between them and so excited to see where their relationship goes! <3
This is definitely a slow burn romance, but it is SUPER sweet!
Kyōsuke needs to work on his communication skills though! :p Don't be causing unintentional drama for my ship! *looks sternly at Aya-chan* And that goes for YOU too!
Another excellent volume in Waiting for Spring!
Original Review 7/19/20: I REALLY like Mitsuki! She is such a fantastic heroine and just love how she is standing up for herself slowly but surely! Toma is also really amazing and deeply appreciate how he encourages her and pushes her to grow every day. It's a beautiful thing they have unfolding between them and so excited to see where their relationship goes! <3
This is definitely a slow burn romance, but it is SUPER sweet!
Kyōsuke needs to work on his communication skills though! :p Don't be causing unintentional drama for my ship! *looks sternly at Aya-chan* And that goes for YOU too!
Another excellent volume in Waiting for Spring!
April 7, 2019
My heart is so full right now! <3333
RTC
RTC
June 15, 2021
Another great volume in this series where we see more of Mitsuki and Towa’s connection growing, but there is also Aya trying to get her attention. But I love how she was able to put aside the competition between the two in agreeing to go on a date, but it’s a group date between the three. There is also a new character from the girls basketball team, Maki Sudo, and she is interested in Towa and befriends Mitsuki which adds more tension. Then there is Kyosuke, who is seeing everything and understands how the two feel for each other and wants to see them together. With the more tension in the story from Maki Sudo and the rivalry on court and Mitsuki’s attention by Aya and Towa help heighten the story and makes the story more exciting. Overall, really excited to see where this love triangle will go and who Mitsuki will end up with, if she even ends up with someone.
December 30, 2016
Oh Aya...
April 22, 2018
Probably my fav manga series ❤️
January 6, 2021
Second Read: January 2021 ❤️ First Read: May 2019
The nostalgia is real.
The nostalgia is real.
January 10, 2020
3.5 Stars
January 25, 2019
I’m so in my feels right now!
This is the most sweetest innocent manga out there! ❤️❤️🏀
This is the most sweetest innocent manga out there! ❤️❤️🏀
June 25, 2021
4/5
I really liked this volume. Mitsuki is still dealing with her feelings towards Towa and they are kind of getting closer. Of course Aya is still there and he's gonna make trouble and I'm not here for it. The basketball team is playing the tournament and they are doing great.
Mitsuki is still determined to cheer them up and I think that's really cute. She helped a girl from the female basketball team with the banner incident because she spend all the money on wristbands for the male team and now they don't have anything left to get a banner. Mitsuki will make one and wants Reina chan help. However reina has other business to take care of and she suggests her to ask the girl from the basketball team for help. Mitsuki is not sure since she doesn't know her that much and that makes Reina angry. Mitsuki is always talking about how she wants to make friends and put herself out there but when the chance appears she doesn't wanna take it. Reina chan tells the girl from the basketball team about the banner and in the end she is willing to help Mitsuki no matter what. She knows she needs her time to grow and to adapt. Mitsuki is surprised about it and talks with the girl from the basketball team. She had a hard time in elementary school with the girls and during middle school it was hard to make friends. She's willing to change that in HS and she won't give up. The girl thinks it's kind of stupid but she apologizes. She's too straight forward but she thinks it's cool Mitsuki doesn't want to give up and she's gonna follow her advice. She thinks Mitsuki is a god for helping them with the banner after she messed up. This girl has a crush on Towa as well and she wants him to sign her wristband with a victory message. Towa asked mitsuki first to sign his wristband and they hold hands before Aya ruined the moment of course :D
Riuji asked Nanasae to do the same for him but he asked Towa to go instead because he was embarrased.
Honestly this volume was really cute and wholesome and I love Towa and Mitsuki as individuals and as a potential couple. I wish we could've seen more of the other members from the basketball team because they are amazing and they are also really supportive but i guess we wont get much since this is mitsuki's story.
Also i really enjoyed the moment when towa clarifies that aya is not mitsuki's boyfriend because i think he was a little bit jealous but he's still a nice guy and is not an asshole about it.
Aya is also serious about basketball and Mitsuki and I know he's gonna create a lot of trouble and I'm not here for it but whatever, we'll keep reading!
I really liked this volume. Mitsuki is still dealing with her feelings towards Towa and they are kind of getting closer. Of course Aya is still there and he's gonna make trouble and I'm not here for it. The basketball team is playing the tournament and they are doing great.
Mitsuki is still determined to cheer them up and I think that's really cute. She helped a girl from the female basketball team with the banner incident because she spend all the money on wristbands for the male team and now they don't have anything left to get a banner. Mitsuki will make one and wants Reina chan help. However reina has other business to take care of and she suggests her to ask the girl from the basketball team for help. Mitsuki is not sure since she doesn't know her that much and that makes Reina angry. Mitsuki is always talking about how she wants to make friends and put herself out there but when the chance appears she doesn't wanna take it. Reina chan tells the girl from the basketball team about the banner and in the end she is willing to help Mitsuki no matter what. She knows she needs her time to grow and to adapt. Mitsuki is surprised about it and talks with the girl from the basketball team. She had a hard time in elementary school with the girls and during middle school it was hard to make friends. She's willing to change that in HS and she won't give up. The girl thinks it's kind of stupid but she apologizes. She's too straight forward but she thinks it's cool Mitsuki doesn't want to give up and she's gonna follow her advice. She thinks Mitsuki is a god for helping them with the banner after she messed up. This girl has a crush on Towa as well and she wants him to sign her wristband with a victory message. Towa asked mitsuki first to sign his wristband and they hold hands before Aya ruined the moment of course :D
Riuji asked Nanasae to do the same for him but he asked Towa to go instead because he was embarrased.
Honestly this volume was really cute and wholesome and I love Towa and Mitsuki as individuals and as a potential couple. I wish we could've seen more of the other members from the basketball team because they are amazing and they are also really supportive but i guess we wont get much since this is mitsuki's story.
Also i really enjoyed the moment when towa clarifies that aya is not mitsuki's boyfriend because i think he was a little bit jealous but he's still a nice guy and is not an asshole about it.
Aya is also serious about basketball and Mitsuki and I know he's gonna create a lot of trouble and I'm not here for it but whatever, we'll keep reading!
February 25, 2021
One thing that I really love about this Manga is that the author takes common shoujo tropes like — "the two love-interests battling it out for the girl, whilst said girl stands by and watches" — and instead says nope, we're not gonna be doing that. It was refreshing to see the heroine stand up for herself and her feelings instead, and I look forward to seeing how this story will play out!
Rating: 4/5
— Reminder: The whole series is currently available on kindle unlimited!
Rating: 4/5
— Reminder: The whole series is currently available on kindle unlimited!
April 14, 2022
✧ 100/108
MY. GOD. I FORGOT HOW GOOD THIS WAS. I FORGOT ABOUT TOWA, I AM IN LOVE WITH HIM AND I AM SHAMELESSLY PUTTING THIS ON THE INTERNET FOR MY SISTER TO SEE.
i love him
if this gets an anime adaptation i will cry
screaming & crying
MY. GOD. I FORGOT HOW GOOD THIS WAS. I FORGOT ABOUT TOWA, I AM IN LOVE WITH HIM AND I AM SHAMELESSLY PUTTING THIS ON THE INTERNET FOR MY SISTER TO SEE.
i love him
if this gets an anime adaptation i will cry
screaming & crying
November 12, 2022
It's getting weird here...
I feel like Mituski is more interested in Asakura's victory in bascketball than he is himself.
Which results in her sort of imposing her wish of winning in our male character Asakura.
But apart from that I'm enjoying the story.
I feel like Mituski is more interested in Asakura's victory in bascketball than he is himself.
Which results in her sort of imposing her wish of winning in our male character Asakura.
But apart from that I'm enjoying the story.
December 21, 2022
I have honestly forgotten everything that happened here. Oh wait....Mitsuki has a new rival for Towa's affections, a fact that she is obviously oblivious to.
April 27, 2025
i’m gonna have a heart attack.. towa you’re so perfect
October 8, 2023
This is a cute series. I would compare it to Blue Box.
Aya and Towa get very competitive here, and Kyosuke has his innocent face on, but it aint fooling me. The friendships are great in this as well.
A cute high school romance.
Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!
Aya and Towa get very competitive here, and Kyosuke has his innocent face on, but it aint fooling me. The friendships are great in this as well.
A cute high school romance.
Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!
July 24, 2021
Overall manga review:
A great series with unconventional yet super fun friendships. The character dynamics were great and there were many hilarious and embarrassing moments.
The romance was well-written but never balanced between the two male love interests. The protagonist clearly loved the main love interest only. The second male love interest, who just so happened to be the protagonist’s childhood friend, was extremely pushy and forceful. His every advance was evaded and unwanted yet he still seemed to think it was okay to pursue the protagonist. At one point she outright told him to stop but due to seem weird aggressive competitiveness between the two male love interests, which likened the protagonist to some possession to be fought over or some game to be won, he continued.
The sports element of this manga was refreshing to see and I liked that it was given just as much importance as the romance. I liked that the games weren’t predictable, but in the end the match that mattered between the two male love interests didn’t at all go to plan in a way that made it all feel so unfinished. I’ll admit it got a bit tiresome seeing all the characters take the basketball so seriously like it was life and death to the point that the protagonist was not only understanding but also expecting the main love interest to love basketball more than her.
Aside from some weird and questionable aspects this was a great and enjoyable shojo romance/sports manga!
A great series with unconventional yet super fun friendships. The character dynamics were great and there were many hilarious and embarrassing moments.
The romance was well-written but never balanced between the two male love interests. The protagonist clearly loved the main love interest only. The second male love interest, who just so happened to be the protagonist’s childhood friend, was extremely pushy and forceful. His every advance was evaded and unwanted yet he still seemed to think it was okay to pursue the protagonist. At one point she outright told him to stop but due to seem weird aggressive competitiveness between the two male love interests, which likened the protagonist to some possession to be fought over or some game to be won, he continued.
The sports element of this manga was refreshing to see and I liked that it was given just as much importance as the romance. I liked that the games weren’t predictable, but in the end the match that mattered between the two male love interests didn’t at all go to plan in a way that made it all feel so unfinished. I’ll admit it got a bit tiresome seeing all the characters take the basketball so seriously like it was life and death to the point that the protagonist was not only understanding but also expecting the main love interest to love basketball more than her.
Aside from some weird and questionable aspects this was a great and enjoyable shojo romance/sports manga!
February 24, 2019
Aya is getting on my nerves. Just stop and go away, nobody wants you here. xD
August 10, 2023
so i’m pretty sure i know who i ship together.... but there’s one obstacle, or actually a few... i just hope mitsuki is with the guy i ship her with, not the second guy, please pLEASE!
October 4, 2021
Omg!!! Aya is such a tease!!!!
May 16, 2022
That towel scene was everything!! I'm always amazed at how shoujo mangakas can still make my heart flutter after reading so many romance series, they really are magical. ♡♡♡
I really like how my expectations for the 1v1 basketball bet were subverted, it's always nice to see the heroine take control of a situation, it was refreshing.
I hope pretty soon we can get some more development and information about Aya. He's one of the main love interests, and I feel like I barely know him. So far I do prefer Towa, but that's probably just because I know him so well (and he's really adorable).
Can't wait to see how the basketball game goes in the next volume!! (Words that have never been spoken by me before lmao)
I really like how my expectations for the 1v1 basketball bet were subverted, it's always nice to see the heroine take control of a situation, it was refreshing.
I hope pretty soon we can get some more development and information about Aya. He's one of the main love interests, and I feel like I barely know him. So far I do prefer Towa, but that's probably just because I know him so well (and he's really adorable).
Can't wait to see how the basketball game goes in the next volume!! (Words that have never been spoken by me before lmao)
April 21, 2020
Still so good! It's getting to be shojo and sports manga, since the boys basketball prelims are coming up. There's a love triangle now (spoke too soon) which irritates me to no end. I wish the MC and her man (Mr. Friend 😉) would just clear things up by talking.
Ahhhh.... Now to wait to get the next volumes
Ahhhh.... Now to wait to get the next volumes
February 9, 2024
maybe 2.5 stars again? idk this just feels a little drawn out?? as a slow-burn girlie it takes a lot for me to say that but i feel like this didn’t need to be 14 volumes. i appreciate the development of the world & side characters, but we are 3 volumes in & very little has happened between the main couple. ill probably continue in this series but i don’t know if its going to become a new fav
August 9, 2020
The plot thickens as Mitsuki's childhood best friend makes a DEFINITIVE comeback in her life and let's her know that he's... ''serious''.
Mitsuki, girl. I don't know who you'll chose but you got choice.
Mitsuki, girl. I don't know who you'll chose but you got choice.
Read
July 14, 2023i already know this series becomes repetitive so i’m not surprised at the current trajectory. seeing asakura push back at aya is fun. but, i must say it’s weird reading in volumes when i’m so used to chapter by chapter.
july 13, 2023
july 13, 2023
December 8, 2019
Skimmed for the Ryuiji panels and there were not many.
April 10, 2021
i’m such a sucker for love triangles that make the main love interest jealous ah
May 6, 2021
♥️♥️♥️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews