Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You: Volume 2

by Karuho Shiina, 189 pages

As hurtful rumors spread around school, Sawako worries that her pariah status will negatively impact her kind-hearted new acquaintances if they hang around her too much, so she tries to fall on the sword of self-sacrifice and avoid them. But since they all care about each other so much already, there's no way that solution will make anyone happy (with the possible exception of a mysterious schemer lurking in the background, that is).

Friendship warm fuzzies! Bonds no rumors can sever! And a boy thoughtful enough of his naive crush's happiness to back off for a while and just let her enjoy being one of the girls for the first time in her life. It's rare to find a shojo story that doesn't zero in exclusively on the romance as though it were the only relationship of consequence and the point about which all other plots and characters revolve. Kazehaya's influence may be what sets Sawako on the road to self-discovery, but the building of her female friendships is just as important to her growth as a character as is her sneakily deepening bond with him. As a result, Yano and Yoshida are more substantial characters, their connection to one another and to Sawako is more compelling, and some psychological foundations for healthy future relationships are set. Much, one imagines, to the relief of poor Kazehaya, who's waiting as patiently and nervously as he can for Sawako to figure things out at her own speed.

Gimme more! :)