In this volume, both Shu and Yoshino have shared each other’s secret and embraced it together. Shu bought wig and dress, and went together with Yoshino in public place. There are a lot of things goin on in this volume, but I will just mention two main things.

First, more appearance of Yuki, a woman who befriended Yoshino, makes the story develops into another theme of child-adult relationship. On one side, I’m quite nervous reading this part–especially when Yuki’s friend (an adult man) kind of harassed Yoshino by touching their body to make sure if they’re a girl. And I think this part is quite problematic because it just easily went away after Yuki’s friend said that Yuki is a transgender too. I also wonder why Yuki wants Yoshino to come to her place without Shu, is troublesome. But on the other side, those scenes are too real: the confusion of such relationship, as children often look up to grown-ups; the paradox between genuine intention and obsessive desire. I think Yuki, in this story, becomes a model of figure of Shu and Yoshino, who opens possibility for them in the future to live a life they want. To them, Yuki is ideal, and I think their interaction and relationship can portray the intricacy of children/adult’s perception of gender and sexuality.

Second, Chiba, Shu and Yoshino’s friend who wants Shu to wear dress, is an ace. I like how Shimura gives her a complex personality, showing the cold and warm interaction of friendship. Through Chiba, these kids’ relationship becomes more nuanced. I like how she stood up for Shu when some boys bullied them, yet I also adore her passive-aggresive attitude when Shu/Yoshino started doing a shared diary. I don’t know, a character like Chiba often gives richness to other characters too.

With new characters appear, e.g., a boy (a friend of Maho, Shu’s sister) who fell for Shu when seeing them on a sailor dress, I think the story develops into something bigger. Looking forward to the next volume.