Kazuha Akiyoshia responsible girl whose time is always taken up with helping her parents take care of her younger siblingsfinds herself dealing with romantic relationships for the first time in her life. Is Kazuha seriously thinking about becoming a hairdresser, or is she only considering it because its Sugimotos career and represents a way to get closer to him? Meanwhile, theres trouble at home when her brother, Chizura, starts hanging out with the wrong crowd. Unknown to Kazuha, Sugimoto steps in to try and help the troubled Chizura, but his advice might just lead to a serious rift between Kazuha and Sugimoto.
I liked Chizuru's part of the story. The rest of the family is responding with distress to his rebellion not just because of his behavior, but because it's messing with long-entrenched family dynamics. But seriously, though, pierced ears and a couple of deliberately failed tests are hardly the worst that he could be doing.
Hmmm I really want to say that Kazuha was being so damn over dramatic at the end of this volume but it’s Japan??? They are so conservative…
Also, I have to admit that I’m annoyed that Kazuha picked being a hair stylist as her future career. It was so impulsive and all because of Sugimoto! But she is a teenager. Teenagers will do whatever they can to be close to someone they love. Hopefully, Sugimoto won’t take advantage of their age difference.
This continues to be one of those series that teases with flashes of greatness but ultimately remains very uneven. I really liked how Chizuru's behavior put the focus on the Akiyoshi family dynamics in this volume, but the development of the romance continues to frustrate me. The whole "Maki is older and wiser, even if he comes off as flaky" thing becomes tiresome after a while.
And yet I keep reading! Apparently my weakness for so-so shojo knows no bounds!