Erased vol 5 by Kei Sanbe

This volume is all the side-stories you didn't know you needed from the time Satoru is in his coma. Hinazaki continuously visits Satoru in the hosipital and keeps his mom company until Sachiko decides to move Satoru away from the area. Kenya is determined to figure out who attacked Satoru, but his lawyer father, who has the case, tells Kenya he needs to acquire the skills first, so Kenya gets great grades and goes to school to become a lawyer. We also see when Kenya meets up with Sawada-sensei to solve the murder-mystery. Lastly, we see Airi-chan's life since Satoru wasn't in it this time, and the end of volume five links up with the end of volume four to explain how all the characters come together again.

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While this volume isn't entirely necessary to the overall plot, it is nice to see how some of these characters continued on while Satoru was in a coma. I'm curious if a reading of this volume in between three and four would offer any more depth to the story, or is it necessary to read volume five first to appreciate these side stories afterwards. It would have been more satisfying if these things were woven into the main storyline, but Sanbe-san explains at the end of volume four that it was the story he didn't know he needed to tell. Nonetheless, it was fulfilling and a good read, but an interesting way to end a series that was otherwise fantastic.

Sara’s Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

Reviews of previous volumes in the series: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4

Publisher: Yen Press
Publication Date: September 18, 2018
ISBN: 9781975301743 (Paperback)

Tags: Rating: 8/10, Suitability: High School, Manga, Surrealism, Mystery, Fantasy, School Life, Yen Press