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Strawberry Fields Once Again #3
Strawberry Fields Once Again, Vol. 3
Akira is troubled by recurring dreams—or are they memories?—of an attractive blond stranger who somehow feels very precious to her. Meanwhile, Pure has spent much of the past year searching in vain for Akira, her one true love. Thanks to Ruri’s time reversal experiment, the meddling visitor from the future has been set on a different path—one that doesn’t interfere with his plans to alter the timeline so drastically that Pure will never unite with her amore! Only time will tell what the future holds! !
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 4, 2022
A bit messy and confusing in some bits but the ending was adorable!!!
July 2, 2021
Akira spends all her time alone with her games and never had a real friend. Right? She wouldn’t have just forgotten a tall, blonde girl who she used to kiss regularly, surely? Then again, time plays funny tricks on people. And, as Pure is about to learn, the reverse of that statement is also true.
Phew, this will be as spoiler-free as I can make it, but I will first say that this absolutely sticks the landing. After Pure apparently vanished out of existence at the end of last volume, there was definitely a lot of ‘what the hell’ waiting to be answered.
Happily, it all is. As I had surmised from the second volume, it is indeed all connected to time travel and a lot of people making very bad choices for themselves (and others, by proxy). Remorse and regret intermingled with the usual dire motivations and unintended consequences. They even explain the title!
We learn that Pure and Akira have met before (uh, ish) and everything Pure has done makes and, in fact, has made, absolutely perfect sense. There’s a real moment when we realize that Pure’s actions, done out of love, are what make Akira’s own love possible at all.
I almost feel bad saying that much. This was all planned from the beginning - the author’s notes even have the full timeline laid out and it makes me excited to read the whole thing again with the benefit of knowing what was going on the whole time.
Mix in a self-righteous bonehead of a villain and a reluctant accomplice and it does stuff a little of the romance to the sides, but there’s more than enough sprinkled throughout in my estimation.
There are also some heavy themes dealt with in here - one character’s story is a real heartbreaker - and a definite content warning for attempted assault. The time travel can be a little rough to follow the first time through, but the book’s rules make sense and it doesn’t break them.
I also love the version of time travel they use, which implies that nothing is ever truly erased. Poor Akira is the one who gets put through the mill this time and while you can only do so much in three volumes I was really hoping for a happy ending here.
What we end up with is a love story about memory and a bit of a moral on being selfish and just trying to bury your past rather than come to terms with it. They cheat a little bit to get to the ending, but I prefer to see it as good intentions winning out in the end.
3.5 stars and up to the full 4 because it juggles a complicated plot with some interesting characters and brings it all to a delightful conclusion. The last three book yuri series I finished was a total disaster and this one is here to restore my faith in shorter series.
Phew, this will be as spoiler-free as I can make it, but I will first say that this absolutely sticks the landing. After Pure apparently vanished out of existence at the end of last volume, there was definitely a lot of ‘what the hell’ waiting to be answered.
Happily, it all is. As I had surmised from the second volume, it is indeed all connected to time travel and a lot of people making very bad choices for themselves (and others, by proxy). Remorse and regret intermingled with the usual dire motivations and unintended consequences. They even explain the title!
We learn that Pure and Akira have met before (uh, ish) and everything Pure has done makes and, in fact, has made, absolutely perfect sense. There’s a real moment when we realize that Pure’s actions, done out of love, are what make Akira’s own love possible at all.
I almost feel bad saying that much. This was all planned from the beginning - the author’s notes even have the full timeline laid out and it makes me excited to read the whole thing again with the benefit of knowing what was going on the whole time.
Mix in a self-righteous bonehead of a villain and a reluctant accomplice and it does stuff a little of the romance to the sides, but there’s more than enough sprinkled throughout in my estimation.
There are also some heavy themes dealt with in here - one character’s story is a real heartbreaker - and a definite content warning for attempted assault. The time travel can be a little rough to follow the first time through, but the book’s rules make sense and it doesn’t break them.
I also love the version of time travel they use, which implies that nothing is ever truly erased. Poor Akira is the one who gets put through the mill this time and while you can only do so much in three volumes I was really hoping for a happy ending here.
What we end up with is a love story about memory and a bit of a moral on being selfish and just trying to bury your past rather than come to terms with it. They cheat a little bit to get to the ending, but I prefer to see it as good intentions winning out in the end.
3.5 stars and up to the full 4 because it juggles a complicated plot with some interesting characters and brings it all to a delightful conclusion. The last three book yuri series I finished was a total disaster and this one is here to restore my faith in shorter series.
April 26, 2022
This was probably my least favorite volume out of the series. (Though I honestly still really enjoyed it) I think the ending had the potential to be really great if it had stretched into 4 or even 5 volumes. I also think Ruri has the potential to be a great character if he could've had the chance to be flushed out a little more. Overall, I personally loved this series, though the ending was slightly rushed and honestly a little disappointing.
March 8, 2022
This was a trip. 0.0
May 1, 2022
genuinely started to cry at the end
May 11, 2025
Kawaii!!
So wholesome ( =＾ω＾) 🩷
So wholesome ( =＾ω＾) 🩷
September 30, 2025
this makes up for the first two volumes. the twist was great and I loved the conclusion, but I would've loved more details here.
January 30, 2022
Won't lie, the whole plot with the brother took away some points since that was confusing. However overall it was a cute series.
March 23, 2022
For me, it was Hard to Read, and Bittersweet; but let me tell you why…
I’m going to put this out there now because I can’t do this without prefacing this with a 🚨🚨SPOILERS ALERT🚨🚨
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IF YOU CONTINUE TO READ YOU WILL BE READING INFO IN THE CONTENTS OF THE BOOK ITSELF!!!
Barring having to post this warning this last book was the hardest and most bittersweet for me to read. I had figured out that SOMETHING drastic was driving Prue to do what she had done, I just never thought what it ended up being would be so so very close to my daily existence.
Seeing so many parallels between myself and Akira’s Adult life, I had to literally put this down and cry, because I could completely understand what drove Pure… I understand her demons and the obsessions… and how difficult it is to learn to let them go.
I feel bittersweet about it because there really isn’t a fix like that available. We have to live the mess we are dealt. But even in the fantasy I loved how the author stayed true to their connection to the human condition. That more than anything else has driven this story because, despite this not being a reality, GOODNESS do we want it to be so very badly!! And that is why this has been completely about the human condition.
I’m going to put this out there now because I can’t do this without prefacing this with a 🚨🚨SPOILERS ALERT🚨🚨
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IF YOU CONTINUE TO READ YOU WILL BE READING INFO IN THE CONTENTS OF THE BOOK ITSELF!!!
Barring having to post this warning this last book was the hardest and most bittersweet for me to read. I had figured out that SOMETHING drastic was driving Prue to do what she had done, I just never thought what it ended up being would be so so very close to my daily existence.
Seeing so many parallels between myself and Akira’s Adult life, I had to literally put this down and cry, because I could completely understand what drove Pure… I understand her demons and the obsessions… and how difficult it is to learn to let them go.
I feel bittersweet about it because there really isn’t a fix like that available. We have to live the mess we are dealt. But even in the fantasy I loved how the author stayed true to their connection to the human condition. That more than anything else has driven this story because, despite this not being a reality, GOODNESS do we want it to be so very badly!! And that is why this has been completely about the human condition.
July 20, 2021
I finished the third and final volume of 'Strawberry Fields Once Again' where we got an extended digression into exactly what sort of time-travel nonsense has set everything up this way, Akira is lonely and has thoughts about choosing love, and everything comes together in the end for a happy ending. 'Strawberry Fields' has their alternate paths created intentionally as part of a convoluted scheme to avoid a different heartbreak, and then fixing the regrets left after that was changed, and then trying to fix more regrets, until everything seems doomed and it's only Pure's insistence on chasing after her love that guides everything through to a hopeful resolution. There's just enough techno-babble thrown in to make it fun to think about, without ever really losing sight of the core romance.
August 30, 2021
I don’t want it to be over! Pure finds out that Ruri has been sabotaging her plan to find Akira so he can erase his and her existence to prevent their mother’s death by the help of Sumire, so she goes back in time to find her. Stuff happens, family trauma, and they find each other again. Pure and Akira get married, with the support of Akira’s father and Ruri. I’m so used to queer women in America being done dirty, so it was nice to see such a cute happy ending for a change! I wish the whole Sumire being in love with her much older cousin thing didn’t happen, but other than that this was a great read!
July 2, 2022
I waited on reading this; Unsure if I would like the ending.
I am glad that things were explained. The author does lay out the time traveling so that it makes more sense when you read them a second time.
The way the previous volume ended, I needed answers. Akira starts having a dreams of someone she doesn't know but she feels like she should.
Revelations involving their mother come to light. And there are different versions of the futures and characters fate.
One day, I do plan on reading this again as a binge so I remember not only more of the story, but of the time traveling element as well.
I am glad that things were explained. The author does lay out the time traveling so that it makes more sense when you read them a second time.
The way the previous volume ended, I needed answers. Akira starts having a dreams of someone she doesn't know but she feels like she should.
Revelations involving their mother come to light. And there are different versions of the futures and characters fate.
One day, I do plan on reading this again as a binge so I remember not only more of the story, but of the time traveling element as well.
July 6, 2021
Gave this volume 3 stars because even though the background information about Sumire’s power is needed for the story, it was still pretty confusing to learn. I needed to reread that part again to be sure I understood everything and didn’t get certain characters confused.
I was really worried throughout most of this last volume, but am very happy and relieved that Pure and Akira got their happy ending! I also found it really cute to learn the reason why Pure started to fall in love with Akira. This was a really enjoyable quick series to read.
I was really worried throughout most of this last volume, but am very happy and relieved that Pure and Akira got their happy ending! I also found it really cute to learn the reason why Pure started to fall in love with Akira. This was a really enjoyable quick series to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2024
Alright so I read volume 2 and 3 back to back and...
Idk... still very clunky... truely a beautiful mess.
There's so much weird time travel stuff, random plot points that feel unnessscary.
Okay time to get into what I didn't like cuz while I think I liked this series enough. There are so many flaws that hold it back, making it a guilty pleasure.
First. I do not like Ruri, he was fine in the first volume. But then the twist was so stupid in the second volume. And it feels like he's only there to add drama and create conflict. And he's just very unpleasant I'm sorry. Usually I try to not say "this child character is annoying!" Cuz I mean let's be real we were all kinda annoying as kids! But seriously this dude is so fucked up!!!
spoilers!!!
Wanting to kill himself and his sister???? That part made me so uncomfortable and it was a jarring way to start the volume. Idk the tone shift in this volume was so weird. The first volume was pretty comedic, and while the second volume was more serious it wasn't this dark.
Idk everyone processes grief differently but there is something seriously wrong with that kid. And the way it wraps up... so he learns that his mom wanted to see their dad again so he could take care of the kids. And then he's like oh okay I understand. AND suddenly makes him change his mind completely. Yet he still hates the dad idk, the writing is so weird in this. OH and the way it's written made me so pissed off! Wtf? Like it's probably the reason why I can't give it a 3. The line: "Anyways I guess this opened my eyes. Actually I'd been planning on disappearing from this world and taking you with me! ⭐️" AND HE SAYS THE STAR EMOTICON TOO. I HATE THIS MAN. Like tf was that for? Seriously... it was so unnerving and uncomfortable. It was such an unneeded plot point. It really only distracted from the main story. And I think it was handled very poorly. This kid didn't just want to kill himself he wanted to make it so he never EXISTED, along with his sister. Who when asked why he would do that, basically goes yeah I know :(( but I have to do this.
This part basically killed the volume for me sorry. It was just... so BAD.
Honestly Ruri didn't need to be a character in this story idk. I really hate the child genius character, I'm talking the anime type of child genius. The one who's a crazy computer whiz and is capable of doing things that professional adults haven't been able to for years... just because they lock themselves in a room all day and do computer whiz stuff.
I dont really like time travel plots anyways, they're always so confusing. Why did I read this then, idk i like to try things. Anyways the time travel plot really got in the way of things i think. It made the story more interesting and unique defiently but it also made the story weaker as so much of the time was spent with this time travel plot. Which for the first volume is barely talked about.
It's trying to be a story about grief, what is love, second chances, family issues, loneliness, and add in time travel. Just way too much. The first and second volume focused more on the characters and romance, with the time travel being in the back. Then they realized oh we have to explain the time travel. And the addition of the time travel girl Sumire... I'm sorry that was so stupid and unneeded and also she has a crush on the girl who the dad cheated with. And the way they explained her getting time travel abilities. Okay??? It was so odd. Rather be a Groundhog Day/life is strange type thing where they just manifest randomly. She has a whole thing about the problems with changing the past that kinda gets ignored because Ruri again realizes that what he was going to do was stupid idk... man this was such a mess. So much going on that kinda fell out of my head as soon as I finished. It was so pointless most of the added stuff! Seriously! It felt like padding honestly. The more I think about it the more problems I have.
Okay so establishing that the writing is pretty bad at some points, why did I still enjoy this? Idk... the drama was pretty crazy. And the last part was cute, I loved the wedding. And I think the message is sweet, I do like how Akira's character arc wrapped up. And the themes of love are stuff not usually explored in the standard fluffy romance comic. You know really getting into what is love. I liked that. Maybe sometimes it's the wrong time, right person. How do you know if you really love someone. Idk just nice little themes. I like when my romance has substance.
But this series was such a damn mess. It really needed to be simplified. The romance and Akira's arc get muddled by the complex added subplots really.
I'm so conflicted. I think the crazy time travel soap opera shit got me too invested so I was like wait this kinda good. But again the Ruri and Sumire side plots just added too much unnecessary drama for drama's sake. I feel like romance always does this, adding side character drama just to add more plot to the story.
Idk if you're looking for a quick romance series read I'd say check this one out for a rainy day. This is something you'd borrow rather than buy I think though.
So in conclusion did I regret reading this series. Not really. I mean I read the last two volumes in one go! I musthave liked it. Or did I just want to see how it ended? Idk. I think the series is a 5/10 still.
Maybe I'm just growing tired of romance manga idk. But this one was really mediocre, I think it's not really worth the read.
Idk... still very clunky... truely a beautiful mess.
There's so much weird time travel stuff, random plot points that feel unnessscary.
Okay time to get into what I didn't like cuz while I think I liked this series enough. There are so many flaws that hold it back, making it a guilty pleasure.
First. I do not like Ruri, he was fine in the first volume. But then the twist was so stupid in the second volume. And it feels like he's only there to add drama and create conflict. And he's just very unpleasant I'm sorry. Usually I try to not say "this child character is annoying!" Cuz I mean let's be real we were all kinda annoying as kids! But seriously this dude is so fucked up!!!
spoilers!!!
Wanting to kill himself and his sister???? That part made me so uncomfortable and it was a jarring way to start the volume. Idk the tone shift in this volume was so weird. The first volume was pretty comedic, and while the second volume was more serious it wasn't this dark.
Idk everyone processes grief differently but there is something seriously wrong with that kid. And the way it wraps up... so he learns that his mom wanted to see their dad again so he could take care of the kids. And then he's like oh okay I understand. AND suddenly makes him change his mind completely. Yet he still hates the dad idk, the writing is so weird in this. OH and the way it's written made me so pissed off! Wtf? Like it's probably the reason why I can't give it a 3. The line: "Anyways I guess this opened my eyes. Actually I'd been planning on disappearing from this world and taking you with me! ⭐️" AND HE SAYS THE STAR EMOTICON TOO. I HATE THIS MAN. Like tf was that for? Seriously... it was so unnerving and uncomfortable. It was such an unneeded plot point. It really only distracted from the main story. And I think it was handled very poorly. This kid didn't just want to kill himself he wanted to make it so he never EXISTED, along with his sister. Who when asked why he would do that, basically goes yeah I know :(( but I have to do this.
This part basically killed the volume for me sorry. It was just... so BAD.
Honestly Ruri didn't need to be a character in this story idk. I really hate the child genius character, I'm talking the anime type of child genius. The one who's a crazy computer whiz and is capable of doing things that professional adults haven't been able to for years... just because they lock themselves in a room all day and do computer whiz stuff.
I dont really like time travel plots anyways, they're always so confusing. Why did I read this then, idk i like to try things. Anyways the time travel plot really got in the way of things i think. It made the story more interesting and unique defiently but it also made the story weaker as so much of the time was spent with this time travel plot. Which for the first volume is barely talked about.
It's trying to be a story about grief, what is love, second chances, family issues, loneliness, and add in time travel. Just way too much. The first and second volume focused more on the characters and romance, with the time travel being in the back. Then they realized oh we have to explain the time travel. And the addition of the time travel girl Sumire... I'm sorry that was so stupid and unneeded and also she has a crush on the girl who the dad cheated with. And the way they explained her getting time travel abilities. Okay??? It was so odd. Rather be a Groundhog Day/life is strange type thing where they just manifest randomly. She has a whole thing about the problems with changing the past that kinda gets ignored because Ruri again realizes that what he was going to do was stupid idk... man this was such a mess. So much going on that kinda fell out of my head as soon as I finished. It was so pointless most of the added stuff! Seriously! It felt like padding honestly. The more I think about it the more problems I have.
Okay so establishing that the writing is pretty bad at some points, why did I still enjoy this? Idk... the drama was pretty crazy. And the last part was cute, I loved the wedding. And I think the message is sweet, I do like how Akira's character arc wrapped up. And the themes of love are stuff not usually explored in the standard fluffy romance comic. You know really getting into what is love. I liked that. Maybe sometimes it's the wrong time, right person. How do you know if you really love someone. Idk just nice little themes. I like when my romance has substance.
But this series was such a damn mess. It really needed to be simplified. The romance and Akira's arc get muddled by the complex added subplots really.
I'm so conflicted. I think the crazy time travel soap opera shit got me too invested so I was like wait this kinda good. But again the Ruri and Sumire side plots just added too much unnecessary drama for drama's sake. I feel like romance always does this, adding side character drama just to add more plot to the story.
Idk if you're looking for a quick romance series read I'd say check this one out for a rainy day. This is something you'd borrow rather than buy I think though.
So in conclusion did I regret reading this series. Not really. I mean I read the last two volumes in one go! I musthave liked it. Or did I just want to see how it ended? Idk. I think the series is a 5/10 still.
Maybe I'm just growing tired of romance manga idk. But this one was really mediocre, I think it's not really worth the read.
January 4, 2024
4 stars. This was so bizarre but in a fun way. This volume took all kinds of turns that I did not see coming but it made it work for the most part. It leans heavily on time travel which was cool. Pure and Akira’s love spans time and I thought that was lovely. This had a lot of great emotional moments and the ending was beautiful. This series went in a way I didn’t expect but I ended up enjoying it overall.
April 4, 2025
This volume did not have the side story at the end to redeem it. I wish I could go into Ruri and his masters Time Machine so I can go to the past and not waste my time reading this. So glad I didn’t pay full cover price. I don’t know how I even made it to the end,which had gorgeous art,the only good thing in this volume.
December 10, 2023
Wow! That is how you conclude a series! I am super impressed! I nto want to spoil anything, but the way this story wrapped up was incredibly and I thoroughly enjoyed that I read the entire series because it would have been so hard waiting for the next part! What a wonderful heart-warming story!
July 23, 2021
I wish this series was longer than 3 volumes because this final volume felt super rushed
January 2, 2022
Very heart warming coming of age story about two women who fall in love.
January 4, 2022
😂 was this cute. I would of rated this higher but at about page 50, there’s a character that confesses her romantic love about her cousin
February 15, 2022
Fun romance with time travel and pretty artwork. The only icky thing was the kissing cousins. I’ve seen this in other manga and anime like elfen lied.
May 17, 2022
Oh, this turned out to be quite interesting by the end. And sweet too! I'm also glad Pure was much less ditzy after the first volume.
June 12, 2022
Well done time travel Romance
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2022
Wtf
I cried a couple times
I cried a couple times
February 23, 2023
Perfect way to wrap up the story!
May 18, 2024
What a confusing, but short journey that was
February 5, 2025
I really liked this series! It has elements of Time Travel, the art is cute, and it’s Yuri!!! So cute, and i definitely recommend :)
July 6, 2021
So what originally was a Yuri school-life tale with time travel references, turns into a tim-travel-palooza!
This volume suddenly veers off from the sweet, (mostly) innocent school-life romance it started as, and goes through a whole series of time-traveling events involving multiple characters, all with different motives, but basically looking for the same outcome. We see Pure die. We see Akira paralyzed from the waist down, we see a world were neither Akira or Ruri are born, and several other varying time-lines. Finally, Pure, who was secretly being misled by a detective Ruri hired, breaks through as a teen and finds Akira, just as she's about to suffer the accident that paralyzed her. Pure gets hurt (but not badly), and Akira is safe. While Pure is unconscious in the hospital, Akira rarely leaves her side, and vows to tell Pure she loves her once she wakes up. She awakes, Akira confesses, she and Pure share a tender kiss. Then Ruri arrives, confesses his misdeeds, swears to dismantle the time machine (which it's later revealed he did), gives Pure and Akira his blessings, and promises to turn his life around. The volume comes to a close with events having moved forward a few years, and Pure and Akira get married. Akira comes to terms with her estranged Father, as well. The final chapter, a couple more years in the future, shows the two happily still in love, living together (obviously, since they're married) and planning their much delayed honeymoon. All the time jumps and changes to "the past" get a wee bit confusing, but never fear, the Mangaka has included a handy dandy time-travel effects guide, so we can see in a linear fashion how each past was changed and by whom, then how it was fixed, and by whom. Overall this was such a sweet story. Pure is gorgeous, with a great figure and also a very kind heart. Akira is cute in the mousy little girl-next-door way. It was nice to see the timeline "fixed" so Pure and Akira could be together, as it was meant to be. Love conquers all. Even time-traveling ne'er-do-wells.
This volume suddenly veers off from the sweet, (mostly) innocent school-life romance it started as, and goes through a whole series of time-traveling events involving multiple characters, all with different motives, but basically looking for the same outcome. We see Pure die. We see Akira paralyzed from the waist down, we see a world were neither Akira or Ruri are born, and several other varying time-lines. Finally, Pure, who was secretly being misled by a detective Ruri hired, breaks through as a teen and finds Akira, just as she's about to suffer the accident that paralyzed her. Pure gets hurt (but not badly), and Akira is safe. While Pure is unconscious in the hospital, Akira rarely leaves her side, and vows to tell Pure she loves her once she wakes up. She awakes, Akira confesses, she and Pure share a tender kiss. Then Ruri arrives, confesses his misdeeds, swears to dismantle the time machine (which it's later revealed he did), gives Pure and Akira his blessings, and promises to turn his life around. The volume comes to a close with events having moved forward a few years, and Pure and Akira get married. Akira comes to terms with her estranged Father, as well. The final chapter, a couple more years in the future, shows the two happily still in love, living together (obviously, since they're married) and planning their much delayed honeymoon. All the time jumps and changes to "the past" get a wee bit confusing, but never fear, the Mangaka has included a handy dandy time-travel effects guide, so we can see in a linear fashion how each past was changed and by whom, then how it was fixed, and by whom. Overall this was such a sweet story. Pure is gorgeous, with a great figure and also a very kind heart. Akira is cute in the mousy little girl-next-door way. It was nice to see the timeline "fixed" so Pure and Akira could be together, as it was meant to be. Love conquers all. Even time-traveling ne'er-do-wells.
August 10, 2021
This was my favourite volume of the series! I got really invested in their romance after the twist with her brother and the time travel. I actually teared up a bit near the end. Overall I enjoyed this series and I'm glad I stuck with it.
One bad thing is that there was a bit of unnecessary incest in this volume which was gross.
One bad thing is that there was a bit of unnecessary incest in this volume which was gross.
August 25, 2021
cute read but i don’t really understand the plot? 😅
i’ll probably change my rating once more volumes come out
i’ll probably change my rating once more volumes come out
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews