We got a bit better here - I even took a photo of one of the pages because it was SO insanely true to my life it's not even funny. I think Rin is again growing up a bit too fast - even though she's truly not - her capacity for things is totally above her years - I don't mind her now caregiver at all but I do think he's a giant child - again, it's interesting to see what is inside their heads ( )

Good series, bad ending ( )

It's with only mild chagrin that I confess I liked this series so much I read it in scanlation. Defense: it looked touch-and-go there for a while, whether the publisher would release the rest of the series here in the US. ( )

A very enjoyable slice of life story. ( )

Bunny Drop #3 picks up a few days after #2 ends in March of Rin's sixth year, as she and Daikichi prepare for her to start elementary school in April, and ends in late August, almost a year since they began to live together. Because this is part of an on-going slice-of-life story, I don't think it's nearly as heartwarming or the events in this book are as significant without having read the previous two volumes. This is a link to my review of the first book, where I mention some of the universal aspects of the series. Here are my comments on the second volume.

This third book is almost completely concerned with Rin starting school, with some focus on her friend Kouki and their new school experiences. In a contrast with this, there is also some attention given to Daikichi at work and what it means to be a single parent when it comes to potential romantic relationships.

A third element in the book is that of Rin's absent mangaka mother Masako, which was first explored in the second book. I felt that a bit too much attention was given to her, but the final chapter seems to tie up that plot thread and give closure to the question of what Masako will mean to Daikichi and Rin's lives. It seems that the Masako plot thread is also there to explore the idea of what makes a parent, and what makes family. Perhaps, also, it's there to add another aspect of "what makes a grown-up" that is almost always present in Daikichi's doubt that he's ready or suitable to take care of Rin until she herself is grown.

One of my favorite scenes in this book is in episode 15, though it isn't commented on at all. In one of the previous books, Daikichi bought matching jackets for everyone in his crew at work, because they could get a discount for buying in bulk and also could really use warm jackets. The team really liked them, not just because of them being useful, but because it felt almost like a uniform. In episode 15, they are again wearing matching items - this time, it's a patterned bandanna worn in different ways by each man.

Although I wasn't as fond of the plot thread devoted to Masako, I appreciate the reason for its inclusion, and I think this is another great entry to the Bunny Drop series. I'm looking forward to the fourth! ( )