We Never Learn (2021)

[ぼくたちは勉強ができない]

Volume 20

Author/Artist: Taishi Tsutsui
Publisher: Jump Comics

Synopsis:
Yuiga takes a job as a teacher on a remote island, where he is reunited with Kominami, who is interning at the local clinic.

Story/Characters:
Even though poor Ashumi-senpai never fared so well in the popularity polls, she was always my second favorite among the girls and the previous volume served to restore my hope in these alt routes. That hope was abundantly rewarded in a rather strong story about Yuiga and Ashumi-senpai reconnecting years later. There's a strong focus on the self-doubt that hampers Ashumi-senpai from living up to her potential and Tsutsui weaves in a subplot involving Yuiga's father as a friend of Ashumi-senpai's dad that gets a solid payoff in the climax. Normally something like this introduced so late in the game would feel too contrived, but there's just enough space to build it up in this volume to make it plausible. There's also the element of Yuiga and Ashumi-senpai as outsiders struggling to integrate into the island community. If you like stories about city folk adapting to small town living, then you should appreciate that element of it.

As I inferred earlier, the climax is quite the payoff, to the point where I'd say if any of the endings were to be adapted as a feature film, this one would be the best fit.

Art:
It would appear that Ashumi-senpai was just a really late bloomer, as she's grown up a fair bit since the main series. As per usual with the series, plenty of fanservice ensues. Also, the climax is as well-rendered visually as it is in terms of story.

Other:
We get two bonus comics, a one-pager to commemorate the Year of the Rat and a two-pager with the gang enjoying barbecue at the river.

Conclusion:
Team Senpai should be thoroughly satisfied by this volume. At this point, three of the four endings have been quite excellent, so people should have high hopes for Tsutsui giving a similar treatment for crowd favorite Kurisu-sensei in the final volume. This one belongs in the collection, so get it.

Rating:
Own It