Another interesting book, this one focusing on the artists' attempts to unseat one another from the first place in a semi-official competition. It's pretty good. One thing I have noticed is that Mashiro's girlfriend isn't in it, and I'm not sure she was even in the last one. On the one hand it's good, because to be honest there isn't much to be said about their affair, given they don't associate; on the other hand, with Akito and Kaya others already (quietly) married, it leaves the story really just about manga artists. Interesting enough, but I've read quite a bit of that over the last fifteen books, and variety helps keep it fresh. I do wonder a bit if they might be showing Mashiro drifting deeper into his work and further from Azuki, but I suspect not. But it's possible; he is older, and potentially wiser about youthful crushes. ( )