We Never Learn (2019)

[ぼくたちは勉強ができない]

Volume 14

Author/Artist: Taishi Tsutsui
Publisher: Jump Comics

Synopsis:
Yuiga turns to Furuhashi to help Ogata overcome her self-loathing.

Story/Characters:
We left off last volume with the reveal that Ogata hates herself and we get the context for it here, along with more of her backstory. In total, this is a four-chapter arc that gives us a new look on the dynamic between her and Furuhashi. As much as I like what Takemoto, Kurisu-sensei and Ashumi-senpai bring to mix, I feel we missed something by not having the series just focus on the two of them. Also, I really liked the backstory with Ogata and her grandma.

After this, we have Yuiga and Ashumi-senpai go to a mixed onsen together. Before you start getting excited, they wear swimsuits. I didn't think such a thing existed, but some cursory research shows that it is indeed a thing. Next is Yuiga time-travelling to go on a date with high school-era Kurisu-sensei. Yuiga then helps Takemoto clean the school pool. Next Furuhashi gets Yuiga's help catsitting. We then get Kurisu-sensei's birthday and finally tie a ribbon on everything with a New Year's Eve shrine visit.

Art:
The art is good as ever. The emotional punches in the Ogata arc are particularly well done. Also, we get neko Fuminocchi. You'll see. I also really like the full-page shot at the end of the shrine chapter, which is a nice way to wrap up the (in-universe) year.

Other:
We get the results of the second character poll. The winner's overwhelming advantage is mind-boggling, but I guess it says something about the majority of the reader base. We also get a two-page compilation of locations and activities the readers want to see in the series. Then there's a bonus comic about the charas getting excited about the summer.

Conclusion:
The Ogata arc is among the best writing in the series, managing to outdo Furuhashi's arc from a few volumes back, even though that was pretty good as well. To go back to the usual episodic antics afterward is a bit jarring, but it is the series' bread and butter. If we could get more writing on the level of the Ogata arc, I'd rate the series higher. I continue to enjoy it and think it's worth reading, but this one falls just short of a must-have.

Rating:
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