Very fun. I'm so proud of Nakatsu. And Sano. And Mizuki. I loved Io being in this one too, filling in for Umeda and even wearing the coat. Normally I don't care for Nakao or Nanba, but I actually kind of enjoyed their stories. I can't believe I've almost reached the end of Hana-Kimi! ( )

In the cliffhanger ending of the last volume, Nakatsu's mother demanded that he tell her when he was coming home to resume his place in the family business. Not surprisingly, Ashiya falls into a panic and has to figure it all out. She takes Nakatsu out for dinner and demands answers. He fills her in on some of his history - how he promised an old friend that they would meet again in the World Cup, and the fact that his mother believes the dream is unrealistic and he should take the more practical path of a secure job. Of course, Nakatsu finally makes his stand with his mom, while Ashiya and Sano eavesdrop on the whole thing, after which Ashiya runs after his mom and learns that she does support Nakatsu in his dream, in her own way. This plot development was mildly entertaining, but the tension was never high, since no one believed that Nakatsu was actually going to leave the series. With Nakatsu safely restored to his place in Osaka Academy, the story moves on to another side character, the feminine and supercilious Nakao. I appreciated this story more, as Nakao has had very little character development over the course of the entire series, operating more as comic relief. His story becomes serious in this volume, though, once he realizes that Nanba is graduating soon. Nakao finally stirs up the courage to confess his feelings to Nanba, even though he knows that the case is practically hopeless; Nanba loves girls, after all. Nakao's genuine feelings shining through his usual flippant attitude was a nice change of pace. I have to give this series credit: even when a particular volume is less than enthralling to me, it always ends on an idea or moment that grabs me back into the narrative. I am interested in seeing how the Valentine's Day story resolves in the next volume. ( )