It might be nice to start the year with another review of a beloved classic. The review can be found here if anyone needs a refresher on the happenings of volume 1. On to the review for Kimi Ni Todoke, Vol. 2! The volume is all about rumors
Chapter 4
This chapter doesn’t precisely pick up where volume 1 left off, which refers to Yano and Chizu overhearing random rumors about themselves that Sawako allegedly started. Instead, we see Sawako at home with her parents. They realize that although Sawako would always answer that school was fun when asked, she was particularly enthusiastic in her answer this time.
Kazehaya is late to class because Pin randomly decides to tell him a drunken story. This leads to an adorable staring contest between the two. It ends when Kazehaya feels self-conscious when he remembers Pin was asked if he and Sawako were a couple. As the school day goes on, the rumors about Yano and Chizu get wilder and wilder. The gossipmongers continue to say that Sawako is the source of said rumors.
When Chizu and Yano wonder why Sawako’s name keeps coming up, they see her chatting with an unknown classmate. They overhear the classmate asking Sawako whether she, Chizu, and Yano are friends. They hear Sawako say, “We’re not friends…” Unfortunately, before she can finish her sentence, Yano and Chizu are pulled away by Pin. If the two girls had continued eavesdropping, they would have heard her say that the idea of being able to be friends with them is wonderful. Sawako is kind and modest to a fault, as usual.
Matters are further complicated when Yano and Chizu try to take the bull by the horns and ask Sawako how she feels about them. The two girls don’t allow Sawako to finish her sentence before they jump to conclusions about what she meant and how she thinks of them. After Yano and Chizu leave without further explanation, Sawako overhears two girls talking about how she’s awful, leading to Yano and Chizu losing their popularity. Sawako also hears them say that the same will happen to Kazehaya if he continues being around her. This leads Sawako to believe that she is the cause of everyone’s unhappiness.
Later that day, as she leaves school, Sawako ignores Kazehaya’s wave. Sawako thinks she has caused him trouble, and it’s best if she stays away from him. Sawako ignoring him unsettles Kazehaya since he is in the dark about what is happening between the girls.
Chapter 5
Poor Sawako is stressed out. She thinks she is at fault for everything—Yano and Chizu’s unhappiness, the girls supposed popularity drop, etc. Sawako decides that keeping her distance is best for everyone, including Kazehaya.
Sawako has trouble sleeping and arrives at school early the following morning. She immediately runs into Kazehaya, who is obviously worried about her. Sawako does her best to reassure him that she is not angry and could never hate him. Despite saying this, Sawako runs off soon, making up an excuse.
She runs into Yano and Chizu in the girl’s restroom. Unfortunately, Sawako adds to the confusion when she apologizes, saying that she must be the cause of their unhappiness. Neither Yano nor Chizu knows what to make of her sudden apology.
As the school day goes on, Sawako goes into detective mode, searching for the girls constantly gossiping throughout the school to try and clear up the situation. Due to her search for gossipers, Yano and Chizu think that Sawako is avoiding them since they can’t find her. Misunderstandings are snowballing at this point.
Returning to another stressed-out person’s plight, Kazehaya knows something is going on, and he can’t take it anymore. He asks Sawako if she is fighting with Yano and Chizu. She avoids answering his question as Sawako thinks avoiding Kazehaya is for his own good.
Sawako breaks her heart by avoiding everyone as the days go on. She is too scared even to say good morning one day. Everyone knows that her not greeting someone is extremely out of character. Kazehaya confronts her immediately to get to the bottom of Sawako’s strange behavior.
When Sawako explains herself, Kazehaya tells her that she cannot decide what’s best for others by herself. He explains that popularity, rumors, etc. mean nothing to him, and he will make his own decisions.
Chapter 6
Kazehaya can help calm Sawako down and act as her voice of reason to help her think through the situation.
Kazehaya makes Sawako realize that Yano and Chizu are likely feeling the same confusion regarding Sawako’s behavior as he was. After talking to Kazehaya, Sawako realizes that she can’t jump to conclusions about how others are feeling. Sawako tells Kazehaya that she intends to tell Chizu and Yano how she’s feeling. Her goal is to become friends.
Whereas Sawako has Kazehaya as her voice of reason, Yano has the hilarious teacher Pin, and Chizu has classmate/childhood friend Ryu. Pin doesn’t help Yano much, but he does tell her even if he caused her problem, she has to try and resolve it herself. Ryu’s advice to Chizu is much like Kazehaya’s advice to Sawako. Chizu won’t know Sawako’s true feelings if she doesn’t ask. He does tell her that if things don’t turn out well, he will be her shoulder to cry on.
Yano and Chizu meet to talk, and when discussing Sawako, they realize how much she means to each of them. After coming to this (rather obvious) realization, they resolve to tell Sawako how they genuinely feel.
The next day at school, Sawako tries to clear things up and defend her friends but is cornered and threatened by the gossipers. Kazehaya is tipped off about the bathroom drama but has to hold himself back and alert Yano and Chizu while hoping for the best.
Chapter 7
It’s Yano and Chizu to the rescue and on the run when they discover what’s happening to Sawako. Meanwhile, Sawako is still trying to hold her own against the gossiping, jealous bullies.
With much love and determination, Sawako sticks up for Yano and Chizu, and they finally arrive at her side. All’s well that ends well. As the girls hug it out.
This group hug solidarity moment has always been one of my favorite early moments in the series. The fact that Pin is disappointed by the lack of bloodshed when he arrives seconds later is hilarious. I also find it adorable that Kazehaya is a tiny bit jealous that he has to “share” Sawako now, while at the same time, he is so happy for her.
Sawako thinks of Kazehaya as the catalyst for all her happiness, while Kazehaya recognizes Sawako’s strength and perseverance to change.
Overall impressions 9/10 It is a great volume, and I love the “official” formation of the Sawako, Chizu, and Yano friendship trio. My only gripe, if it can even be called that, is that the issue could have easily been resolved within a chapter or two if Sawako had been allowed to finish her sentence. But hey, what’s a classic shoujo without miscommunication, right? The extension of the drama does help to solidify the friendship in some ways. Chizu and Yano see for themselves just how genuine and selfless (to the point of naivete) Sawako is. Chizu and Yano also realized just how deeply they each care for Sawako. I also enjoyed that each girl had a different “voice of reason.” Some voices are hilariously more effective than others.
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