Illustrated by Lissa Treiman, colored by Whitney Cogar
College roommates Susan, Ester, and Daisy navigate their budding college lives together. Ester is the feature of some cyber stalking when a photo of her at a party ends up on a website rating hot first years. After they both took a gap year, Susan’s “nemesis” comes to her university, and she uses the power of her feminist magazine to splatter his reputation. Daisy’s new friend furnishes her with some pills to make sure she really enjoys her 18th birthday party. Daisy isn't sure if the pills have made her attracted to her new friend, or if this feeling is natural.
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Summer vacation is coming to an end, and it's the first time Komi has felt sad about that. In previous years, Summer vacation just meant a lot of boredom, but now she has friends to hang out with. Once school starts again, it's time for the Sports Festival! Everyone wants Komi to be on their team for events like the relay. The ever-competitive Yodano desperately wants to beat Komi in at least one event, but can't. During Komi's portion of the relay, she slips in the mud, and everyone is so concerned and happy she's ok that they celebrate her finish more so than the victors. We also meet Nokoko, a transfer student from a country school, who is likewise enamored by Komi.
This volume is written in more short chapters, but, unlike volume two, all of them basically go together one after the other. After Najimi, Komi, and Tadano study a bit in the library for their final exams, it’s summer vacation! Najimi invites the gang to go swimming at the city pool, and it turns out “gang” is much bigger than Komi thought. Nevertheless, she has a lot of fun until she scrapes her knee and has to sit out. But, ever conscientious Najimi buys water guns so they can play outside the pool and still include Komi. Next, Najimi invites everyone to a Summer Festival, and most agree Komi is still adorable in her yukata (summer kimono).
Somo helps at his family restaurant. When his dad decides to go cook overseas, he sends Somo to the elite Totsuki Culinary Institute. Somo goes for the transfer exam where he meets Erina, the heiress to the Institute and the owner of the Divine Palette. While the rest of the transfer students high-tailed out of the exam at the intimidating sight of her, Somo rose to the challenge and cooked a dish featuring eggs. Erina secretly loved it but failed Somo out of pride. So, imagine her surprise when he showed up at the entrance ceremony later, having secured a passing grade after all.
We're wrapping up summer break with Takane & Hana, and school is begrudgingly back in session. Takane's uncle hires an assistant for him, Kirigasaki, who doesn't altogether like that Takane is interested in a high school student. Meanwhile, Hana's club at school falls into cliche to present a Maid Cafe for a school fundraiser (a concept very popular in Japan), and of course Takane shows up to patron from Hana! Hana's fear for Takane's reputation is re-explored, and Nicola continues to prove that he sincerely wants to be Takane's friend, not rival.
Vol 1, Beware the Kitten Holy: co-written by Grace Ellis, Faith Erin Hicks, illustrated by Brooke A. Allen, Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Carolyn Nowak, Carey Pietsch Lumberjanes takes place at a summer camp for Hard-Core Lady-Types. It is modeled after Girl Scouts, with pledges and badges, which become the theme of each issue. The story focuses on one cabin's occupants: Jo, Ripley, April, Molly, and Mal. Each of these ladies are strong and positive, and they are encouraging to one another. In this volume's adventure, there are three-eyed monsters everywhere, a white-water canoe ride, and a creepy cave guarded by stone warriors. At the cave's center is a room full of anagrams, one being "Beware the Kitten Holy." They also find a strange tower and a boys' camp. With each slice of adventure, a different Lumberjane has the chance to exhibit her talents.
At the beginning of this volume, Takane is sick, and Hana cares from him as much as she is able to, him being stubborn and, in general, a big baby about his illness. Hana's test scores are coming back too low, and everyone is blaming Takane for distracting her. Takane is embarrassed to be involved with someone who can't get good grades, so he decides to tutor her. Even though he isn't the best tutor, and she sometimes is completely distracted, Hana achieves good scores on her finals, and can enjoy her summer vacation guilt free. Takane offers to take Hana on a trip with some friends, and they go to the beach. While there, Hana's friend Okamoto shows interest in Hana, much to Takane's irritation. Later, Hana and Takane go to a Festival where both wear traditional yukata, and enjoy the fireworks.
At the conclusion of volume 2, Yuri confesses to Futaba that she may have started to develop a crush on Kou. This volume focuses most of its attention on how Futaba can deal with liking the same person her friend does. Does she tell her? Does she hide her feelings? Does she try to get over Kou? In the middle, runs in to an old friend, Yumi, from middle school, and they talk about why they had a falling out. Turns out, it was because Yumi thought Futaba liked the same guy. From this, Futaba decides she can't tell Yuri because she can't afford to lose her friend. In the end, she decides she can't keep a secret from Yuri and hopes that they can still be friends. Murao is also part of the conversation, and she confesses to liking Mr. Tanaka, Kou's older brother. Yuri and Futaba agree to continue their friendship and not get in the way of either one pursuing their feelings for Kou.
Takane & Hana was originally a one-off, but the series got reviewed for more volumes. Because of this, the tone of this volume and the relationship between Takane and Hana changes slightly.
In this volume, Takane's grandfather continues to set him up with marriage meetings until Takane confesses he is still seeing Hana (who his grandfather believes to be her older sister, Yukari). Grandfather requires Takane to bring Hana to a large company party in order to give his blessing. Other employees begin to notice that Hana is much younger than they initially though. Meanwhile, Hana's friends become more involved in the storyline, and get involved in Hana's dating an older man. Also, we meet a friend of Takane, a dangerous playboy named Nicola who is a wealthy Italian heir to business fortune. Takane becomes jealous of Nicola's attention to Hana.
Yokoi is constantly distracted by the antics of her neighbor in class, Seki. Seki has all sorts of supplies to carry out elaborate scenes. He sets up a domino course; he plays Japanese Chess and manipulates the pieces to tell his own story; He builds pillar of sand; he plays with cats. All the while, Yokoi gets in trouble for not paying attention or taking notes properly. But Seki? Suddenly his desk is clear of all toys and his notes are out, and he’s giving Yokoi a reproachful look for not paying attention. Most of this series is told in the thoughts Yokoi has as she examines the games Seki plays.
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