Manga: Hatsu Haru 3

Hatsu Haru Vol 3
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

They say idiots don't get colds, but Kai sure has been love-sick over Riko. There's a fireworks festival around the corner, but instead of asking Riko along, he decides to just not go! When Class Representative work keeps them late at school anyway, it looks like the perfect chance for Kai to collect his feelings and confess...With summer vacation approaching and fireworks booming overhead, will the feelings Kai's precariously kept under wraps finally explode? 

The romance is stepping up with this volume, and not just with our main couple! Miki is adorable, bless him, and he and Kiyo are cute together even though they insist they aren't dating...yeah right. I ship it! Poor old Kai had to give Miki advice/tips for meeting her for the fireworks and it was kinda hilarious how Miki turned to his friends as an example for help and to see what he actually thinks of them individually. I was actually intrigued to sidetrack to Miki and his romance, seeing as it was actually going somewhere, no offence Kai. What I'm trying to say is that it was a cute little happy romance to offset the trials and tribulations Kai is going through with his. I have to say I was cheering him on, but he was also pretty relatable at the same time if you all cast your minds back to what it was like dating someone in school/for the first time in general. Bless him. 

I have to say, Kai was literally every single person ever when looking at one of those sickeningly cute couples at one point. He's just so salty that he can't go to the fireworks with Riko. Meanwhile Riko actually wants to thank Kai for the apple but doesn't seem to know how and he doesn't get what she's getting at, so she gets a tiny bit frustrated and then Kai gets frustrated...BUT we finally have some progress because of it! 

They get to spend some time together, and they do have quite a cute and innocent moment....but it's not long before it gets blown up and causes some trouble thanks to Ayumi...but like I said. It's all good. It's necessary because it pushes things forward and is the catalyst in leading Kai to finally snap at Riko, moving things along as she comes to terms with the fact that she and Suwa aren't going to be a thing. 

Riko has to come to terms with a few things this volume actually, and then try and move on and get over her feelings, Kai is also faced with a problem when it looks like Riko has moved on and gotten herself a boyfriend in the form of Hatano who's introduced this volume. He's an old classmate of theirs from Middle School. Which did surprise me because I thought as far as a "love triangle" was gonna go, it was just gonna be Suwa. Anyway, Kai reaaaaally doesn't handle it well. Luckily his buddy Takaya is looking out for him and gives him an opportunity just in time for the end of the volume and....did he...did he just confess?! 

I have to say, I'm pleased this isn't dragging out her whole thing with Suwa or Hatano, like I was expecting it to go on for longer than it actually has so far, proving the pace of this series, but it also makes me intrigued to see what else this series is going to throw at us, as we've made some progress with Kai and Riko, both of whom are developing more as characters this volume, and now it's just waiting to see what they'll do about things...like their feelings for instance...

Manga: Hatsu Haru 2

Hatsu Haru Vol 2
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Kai, ever-suave, is used to being the target of affection. But deep inside, he's in turmoil because the girl he loves has eyes for another! Can he find a way to be direct and confess his feelings? 

After things on the school camping trip don't go his way, Kai's left dumped and convinced he's better off just giving up on girls and dating altogether. Yet somehow his friends rope him into a group date, and he ends up at the amusement park with...Riko!? But when Suwa-sensei turns up at the same park with another woman, will Kai be able to hide what he saw and protect Riko from experiencing heartbreak like he has? 

My man Kai goes straight in for a smooch as we open the volume, like no dude. You gotta build up to it! So because he made a rookie error and rushed it, of course he strikes out and Riko smacks him straight back down. She won't even talk to or look at him. But it's okay, because after his rejection he looks so pitiful that his bros have his back. Toramaru, Misaki and Kiritani are on to him and have made it their mission to help him so they organise a group outing to an amusement park as part of their scheme to get Kai and Riko together. 

I completely enjoyed getting to see not only Kai's friends but Riko's too, Kagura and Ooshima, plus Shimura the school reporter who tags along and Kai better hope she doesn't catch on to him. Out of all of them, Kagura was freaking hilarious. I actually choked at one point from something she said, and Misaki is the voice of reason throughout this whole thing...aka the only one with a brain cell. 

Kai's expressions are drawn brilliantly, but also hilariously plus he's so extra about things sometimes. But bless him...he's trying really hard with Riko and to look out for her. Riko on the other hand provides some more insight in to her crush on Suwa and we meet a new element to the equation. 

Things progress forward even more this volume as Kai comes to terms with his feelings and asks himself deep questions such as, what is love? What does it mean? And Riko realises Kai may not be as bad as she's determined to see him as in yet another hilarious and entertaining volume

Manga: Hatsu Haru

Hatsu Haru Vol 1
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Playboy Kai knows his way around girls' hearts, but when he has a run-in with tomboy Riko, he may be in for more than he bargained for! Riko clearly doesn't fit Kai's usual type of girl: she's short-tempered, scary, and can (has) easily beat him up. There's no way a rough and tumble girl like Riko is capable of a delicate feeling as love! So imagine his surprise when he finds out about her secret, one-sided crush... But it's none of his concern, right? 

I'm going to be honest, I wanted to read this because sometimes I like to have the odd series here and there that's going to uplift my mood, and be a bit of a cheerful read. With some fluff, and maybe a bit of cheesiness and some romance. Plus, it sounded like it was going to be hugely entertaining! I was also intrigued by the fact the guy was going to be our main character. 

And speaking of Kai....oh Kai, your first impression wasn't great, was it my love? It's safe to say he's a total playboy, and his friend isn't much better either! He's so, hilariously salty about Riko and what she did, it had me chuckling multiple times. I also feel like he's a wee bit delusional regarding her too. Like okay dude, you do you. To be fair to him, he does have the capacity to be quite sweet, but it's not immediately apparent. 

It was immensely satisfying to see him catch feels and struggle with it, after that first impression of him! 

As for Riko, our first glimpse of her at her first encounter with Kai was A+. She's not here for his crap, and she's a little bit of a badass. It had me cackling more than once, especially when we got a flashback to when they where kids. I really enjoyed the fact that anytime he tried anything, she just wasn't having it, and shuts it down immediately. 

Hatsu Haru actually a lot faster paced than I was expecting! I was anticipating it to take a little bit of time before the feelings started, but the volume doesn't hang about! It introduces us to the characters and the situation swiftly and then dives in to the drama. This is a cracking first volume in general, it's absolutely hilarious and wonderfully paced. Kai and his thoughts and how he handles things, like finding out about Riko's crush on Suwa and his own developing feelings...was very entertaining and while initially you might have side eyed Kai a bit, by the end you're rooting for him, like "okay...let's do this". 

Yeah there might be a cheesy trope and cliche or two, but I am living for it because it hits me with the warm and fuzzies, and I do love a bit of cheese sometimes! Plus I feel like it suits this series, and the characters and their relationship. I just love the fact she really doesn't like him and isn't going to make it easy for him, and he's quite reluctant to start with.  

As for the art, the characters are really gorgeously drawn! The art style was just so pretty, particularly how the eyes are drawn! 

Honestly...I'm now completely hooked on this series, it's entertaining, hilarious and full of cute moments and drama!