Kaguya-sama: Love is War (2019)
[ใใใๆงใฏๅใใใใ ๏ฝๅคฉๆใใกใฎๆๆ้ ญ่ณๆฆ๏ฝ]
Volume 16
Author/Artist: Aka Akasaka
Publisher: Young Jump Comics
Synopsis:
With the winter break over, we catch up with everything that happened.
Story/Characters:
I like how we open with the aftermath of winter break and then proceed to fill in the blanks. First we see Shinomiya go Christmas shopping with Ishigami. I like how even when she's in Ice!Kaguya mode, she's taking care of her kouhai. We then go to the Christmas party hosted by Tsubame-sempai. Iino's antics are pretty fun and it's a good thing the glee club kids are as nice as they are. Once the party winds down, we build up to our big moment between Ishigami and Tsubame-sempai. I won't spoil it here, but I will say that it's got punch. The aftermath and what it does for Ishigami and Iino is pretty good. We then lighten the mood with another episode of Fujiwara vs. the Ramen Kings. I definitely want to believe that Old Tanuma is related to the other Tanumas we know. Next we have Onodera and Osaragi checking up on Iino. Iino's home life is equal parts cute and sad. After that is a two-parter of Shirogane and Shinomiya on a date at the mall, featuring a guest appearance by Papa Shirogane as a fortune teller. We then close out with Maki going on a spiritual journey to India (which many commentators suspect was just an excuse for Akasaka to go on vacation and pass it off as a work expense). We also get to meet her twin brother Mikado, who gets dragged along for the ride.
Art:
The art is as good as ever. The Chika vs. Old Tanuma chapter is particularly excellent. The design of Maki's guide in India has a more realistic yet somewhat derpy look to him (likely based on Akasaka's own guide when he went on his India trip) that leaves an impression. A lot of work goes into depicting the food and backgrounds.
Other:
We get a brief profile of Isonokami no Marotari, the literary basis for Ishigami from the Princess Kaguya legend.
Conclusion:
If you're invested in the Ishigami-Tsubame relationship (or the Ishigami-Iino relationship for that matter), this volume is a heavy-hitter. These three are the main focus, which is good news for their fans. The Fujiwara ramen chapter and the Maki in India chapter make for nice diversion, rounding out the package. It's well worth having and I definitely recommend you get it.
Rating:
Own It