Manga: Kiss Me At The Stroke Of Midnight 5

Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight Vol 5
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

After seeing Kaede at Lockheart Castle, Hinana rests assured that her beloved has eyes only for her... until a surprise visit from Kaede's manager brings some unexpected news. Kaede's ex-girlfriend is still in love with him, and she's decided to try to get him back! 

The volume opens a little bit after the events of last volume. Nana has a run in with Kaede's manager, Shige, and he gives her some disturbing news....mainly that Shu, Kaede's ex, is after him. Just the thing she wanted to hear...not. I was actually starting to like Shige but now I'm kind of side eyeing him a bit. 

Akira is actually a really good friend, despite how he feels about Nana personally, he still dishes out solid advice to her and I have to respect him for that. I wouldn't say I'm rooting for him...but I do hope he gets a happy ending too. I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of him in coming volumes though. 

Shu makes her move, and so we get to see a lot of her in this volume, but our main man Kaede actually says and does the right things. He's considerate of how Nana would feel, and what would upset her (colour me surprised), so there shouldn't be a problem....right? Kaede has us on a bit of a seesaw this volume. He did all the right things in the beginning but by the second chapter he started to get sucked in and you're kind of like, "No...don't do it...." but then he turns around and surprises you, but then something semi shady happens again and you're like "Kaede....no" but then he does the right thing...again. 

It's not like the usual where the dude is dumb and doesn't get how the girl would feel. I keep waiting for him to do something shady but as much as your stomach drops and you're like "oh no" he turns round and sorts it all out so it's not shady/wrong. Like with Shu staying over...he slept in his car. The situations are there but he's loyal. 

The thing is....I don't trust Shu, I think she's shady so I didn't believe a word she said. Then there was a split second when you thought she wouldn't be a total cow...but she did the mean thing in the end. Plus Mitsuki is like the old witch stirring the pot and cackling in Snow White. 

We actually get some more insight in to Kaede and how he feels and what it was like for him in Funny Bone. 

The story really moves forward this volume, the game is being stepped up and things are getting juicy! We have Akira finally stepping up and throwing himself in to the mix as he can't sit back any longer. The knowledge that Akira has confessed to Nana lowkey sends Kaede over the edge. Kaede...well he's definitely struggling and Nana is too, and we end with quite the cliffhanger as Shu makes a threat.