Hana-Kimi:
For You In Full Blossom volume 2
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(quoted from the back of Hana-Kimi volume 2)
PERSONAL BEST
High jump champion Izumi Sano has realized that his slender new roommate Miyuki is a girl, but he's decided to keep her secret so she doesn't get kicked out of their all-boys' high school. Now they're becoming good friends, without worrying about "guy" or "girl" stuff--or so Miyuki thought until Izumi kissed her one night! Before Miyuki has time to freak out, in steps a bigger problem: her American half-brother Shizuki, who's not too thrilled to find out that his little sister is cross-dressing 24 hours a day. But handsome Shizuki has problems of his own... |
Hana-Kimi volume 1 contains:
Hana-Kimi Chapter 5
Hana-Kimi Chapter 6
Hana-Kimi Chapter 7
Hana-Kimi Chapter 8
Hana-Kimi Chapter 9
Hana-Kimi Chapter 10
About the Author
Storyline:
The story starts to develop a sort of a feel throughout this volume. First of all, Sano knows Mizuki is a girl and that leads the way to help push this series into all kinds of zany situations. He feels more compassion towards her and even kisses her (gasp!) while their friend Nakatsu keeps feeling more and more attracted towards Mizuki. Sadly, unlike the first volume these chapters aren't quite as memorable or as funny, but they do help build more background knowledge of Mizuki which is a plus.
Artwork:
Pretty much the same as the first volume. The backgrounds are still lacking in some areas but the character designs are stylish!
Characters/Character Development:
In this volume you learn a lot about Mizuki's character. She doesn't put up with bullying and she is the type that is really hard to hate. Plus, her feelings for Sano are starting to grow which causes a lot confusion in her poor mind. Nakajo also talks about Dr. Umeda's boyfriend and his unique personality, Sano's inner desires, Nakatsu's growing attraction towards our hero, and the addition of new characters. These are all great things which will really help out the next volume and probably future volumes (although I'm not 100% sure because Viz is fucking evil and hasn't released Hana-Kimi 4 yet).
Summary (Warning: May Contain Spoilers)
Hana-Kimi volume 2 starts off with Mizuki going through her usual morning routines dress faster then Sano goes to the bathroom. After that Sano and Mizuki meet up with Nakatsu and some of her fellow classmates and later on they go to a track event where they meet a new character from another school: Sano's rival in high jumping, Kagurazaka (who's a big jerk in this volume). Mizuki and Kagurazaka get in a fight and she slaps him. Later on, Mizuki gets a valentine from another girl for standing up to Kagurazaka, and then Mizuki learns just how many girls are in love with Sano as another girl tries to give Sano chocolates (but he declines, hmm...). At the end of chapter 5 Kagurazaka forces Mizuki to tell him where Sano is training and then he challenges Sano to a track competition.
In chapter 6, Sano accepts Kagurazaka's challenge and after he hears Mizuki commenting on how she respects Sano he shows her his high jump. Of course, Sano was in an accident a few years ago and because of that he couldn't perform the high jump like he used to. Mizuki goes to Dr. Umeda for advice and he tells her that some people's bodies may be physically healed, but psychologically they not have healed, and Sano must never have fully recovered. Mizuki takes the advice and after Umeda dresses up in some weird getup she goes on to class. At the end of the chapter Nakatsu and his friends throw a party and when Sano gets drunk he kisses Mizuki.
In chapter 7, Mizuki starts it off by punching out the drunken Sano and running out of the room crying. She got depressed because she really likes Sano but she knew things couldn't go back to the ways that they were. The next day Mizuki tries to avoid Sano so he doesn't realize that she was the one who gave him a black eye. Nanba, Dr. Umeda's nephew, calms Mizuki down and even hits on her that day (although he says he was joking). Later on, Mizuki starts to get secretly bullied in school by a mysterious person. Her shoes get bleached, obscene language appears on letters towards her and stuff, but she manages to keep a positive attitude throughout the time. To top off the chapter Kagurazaka comes to their school and forces Sano to join the upcoming track event, and Mizuki finds out that her half-Japanese brother, Shizuki, is coming for a visit.
In chapter 8, Mizuki is forced to go meet her brother, Shizuki, and pretend that she's not attending an all boy's school. The day that Mizuki went to go meet her brother, Sano followed her and was stunned when he saw Shizuki. Shizuki had blond hair and looked all American. Later on, Mizuki finds out that the previous school icon, Nakao, was bullying her because he saw how Nanba noticed her and was hitting on her (he has a crush on him), despite this fact she tells Nakao that she doesn't like Nanba and she knows how he feels. At the end of the chapter Shizuki finds out that Mizuki is attending an all boy's school and tells her that if Sano can't make it over the high bar at the track competition then he's taking Mizuki home to America with him.
In chapter 9, Nakao and Mizuki have become good friends and they are chit-chatting about personal problems. After awhile Nakatsu tries to join in on the conversation but Nakao drives him away. While walking the dorm dog, Mizuki runs into Nakatsu and they have some noodles (his treat) and she learns a little bit more about Nakatsu and how he was born in Osaka and stuff. Switching scenes, Shizuki is pretending to blend in, in Mizuki's district but with his blond hair it really isn't working. Dr. Umeda spots him and after some suggestions of kisses and stuff Shizuki (a homophobe) finds out that Umeda is gay and runs away from him. At the end of the chapter Mizuki and Sano are training for the track competition and developing a stronger relationship.
In chapter 10, the track competition finally happens and Shizuki is all fired up, getting ready to take Mizuki home. Of course, this pisses Mizuki off and she tells him that she hates him and storms off. Dr. Umeda spots this and he pulls Shizuki off to the side, later that day, and gives him some friendly advice (and a kiss). At the end of the track competition Sano makes the low bar and wins the bet between Shizuki and him. Kagurazaka gets mad when he finds out that Sano can't jump very high anymore and tells him to hurry up and get good again so that he has some competition. Shizuki just leaves a note to Mizuki saying "At least come home for the holidays," and is off crying at the airport. At the end of the volume Mizuki becomes an Osaka High School sophomore and starts off her new semester.
Extras:
Not many extras for this volume which I'm sort of glad of because more chapters are included because of this! Whoopy! Not much to talk about except for the Author's commentary between chapters and at the end of the volume.
Content Warnings:
-Language: No
-Violence: Just a bit
-Nudity: No
-Sexual Situations: Does a kiss count?
Overall:
Hana-Kimi volume 2 is definitely a good volume if you solely talk about character development and such, but because of this fact the volume isn't as memorable as the previous one. People will probably just remember volume 2 as a developing manga which will help lead future volumes into even more crazy situations.
+ Great character development and addition of new characters into the series.
- Not nearly as memorable as the first volume.
Score: 8.5/10
