#chieri yasaka is a garbage girl

[ahb-writes]

Manga Review: 'Skip and Loafer' #7

Skip and Loafer, Vol. 7 by Misaki Takamatsu, Nicole Frasik

comedy

coming of age

romance

wholesome manga

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The spring semester roars into action and the gang splits up among its many classes. Mitsumi is determined to corral as many new friends as possible, to make the most of her burgeoning high-school experience, but reality is a bit crueler than she was expecting. SKIP AND LOAFER v7 renews its focus as a character drama, and in doing so, deftly splits its characters' time and expectations between manifesting and navigating the uncertainty inherent in new (and unstable) interpersonal dynamics.

Mitsumi and Makoto share a class, and together they come to the awkward agreement that Mitsumi may have spoiled her good fortune as a first-year student. But have no fear! Mitsumi has a cute bento and the willpower to greet anonymous students on Day 1. But it's tough. Makoto is used to being a loner. Mitsumi, for the first time, struggles with being ignored, brushed aside, and sometimes deliberately cut out of conversations or social dynamics. For example, during gym class prep, Mitsumi and two other girls are hanging up some banner or other, but when someone calls for volunteers for another task, the other girls slip away without a thought (Girl 1: "We're gonna go help!"; Girl 2: "Thanks for finishing up!"; Mitsumi: "Huh?"). Mitsumi, a budding socialite and strident conversationalist, for the first time, must learn how to adapt.

Yuzu is in a class where she doesn't know anyone. Mika is in Sousuke's class, and Kenta and Tsukasa are in another class altogether.

Yuzu's case encompasses the middle-third of SKIP AND LOAFER v7, and it's a tear-inducing undertaking that again avails readers to the author's skill in developing vulnerable characters. Everyone thinks Yuzu, pretty and peaceable, attractive and amicable, will have no trouble getting up to speed. The truth is less kind. Her first new friend group lies to her, disregards her emotions, tries to manipulate her into dating some schmuck, and then blames her for the fallout. Yuzu has been here before.

Fortunately, readers are treated to a curious new pairing: Mika and Makoto. For six brief pages, the two girls exchange doubts and insecurities, and come to the immediately realization that Yuzu's façade is a constant cry for help. It's a clever and effective narrative transition; individuals who normally don't interact, directly, somehow share an emotional fault line with the manga's most fragile character. As such, when Makoto goes to Yuzu home to see what's wrong, the two friends swiftly acknowledged that this whole "growing up" business is a lot of harder than they realized.

Yuzu has to learn how to stand on her own, but Makoto has to learn that it's often necessary to step up and lend support when her friends falter.

SKIP AND LOAFER v7 is a good volume for the way it carries its characters into a new chapter, while also, not-so-subtly revealing the next great hurdle or two. Mitsumi is increasingly comfortable with expressing her thanks and affection for Sousuke's kindness. Meanwhile, new characters enter the fray: Ebuchi, a gentle and random classmate; Chieri Yasaka, a girl who is no doubt a schemer and staunch egoist; and Momo Yukawa, a chemistry wizard who kind of likes that some students (like Mitsumi) are more whimsical than they initially appear.

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