V.B. Rose: Volume 12

by Banri Hidaka, 189 pages

Mitsu's resilient constitution finally collapses under the combined weight of a cold and the news of Tsuyu's upcoming arranged-marriage meeting. Seeing an opening he can't pass up, Arisaka surprises Ageha by placing a quick call and giving their friends a gentle nudge in the right direction.

Yeah, sic sweet Tsuyu on crazy Mitsu when he's sick and can't properly defend himself! Hee hee hee. Adorable. Who knew Arisaka had it in him? Perhaps it's in return for all the meddling nudges Mitsu gave Arisaka and Ageha? Same happy result, so who cares? The quirks and built-upon relationships and background shenanigans make this series fun. Hidaka is at her best when she's laying her characters' hearts out in the open for everyone to see and letting the chain reaction honesty fly (although she's pretty good with the snarkitude, too).

I hope the last two books get picked up by somebody out there now that Tokyopop's gone, but at least this volume pleasantly ties up a major plot thread and leaves everybody smiling (including the reader). If it has to stall out, it could have picked a worse place to do it. :)

V.B. Rose: Volume 11

by Banri Hidaka, 194 pages

Ever curious, Ageha pesters her boyfriend Arisaka about how he and his best friend, the irrepressible Mitsuya Kuromine, met and became friends. Mitsu is only too happy to spill all the embarrassing details. Only he gives away a little too much about his long acquaintance with their friend and colleague Tsuyu, whom he's always mercilessly teasing. Ageha senses romantic drama and goes to Tsuyu for her half of the story, only to find that it may finally be coming to an end.

The boys are so cute in their precociousness. And Mistu's attachment to Tsuyu is sweet in childhood and, now that we know the details, bittersweet in adulthood. If he doesn't want it to stay that way--or get even sadder--they're both going to have to get over their fatalistic attitudes before it's too late.

V.B. Rose: Volume 10

by Banri Hidaka, 188 pages

High schooler Ageha's part-time job at a fashion designer's has changed her life in more ways than one. Not only has she sold a few of her own creations, but, after a rocky start and slow courtship, she's also dating her boss Arisaka. Things are going well when his estranged mother Ran unexpectedly shows up and whisks Ageha off on a shopping spree and for an emotional heart-to-heart. Will Ageha be able to help the two patch things up?

While this series is not especially deep, it can still be poignant when it tries. Ran's recounting of her relationship with Arisaka's late father is touching and sad and gives the story just enough depth to make it more than a fluffy comedy but not so much as to make it a true drama.

Unfortunately, this is another title whose concluding volumes may be vanishing into the abyss left by Tokyopop's demise at the end of May. *sigh* I'm still waiting to find out how my favorite Hidaka series (I Hate You More Than Anyone) ends, as well, since publisher Go!Comi pulled its unceremonious disappearing act last year. Oh, the suffering of lovers of sequential art....