Cute, charming, and lively.

This is a solid volume with excellent storytelling. I’m very impressed with Taamo’s ability to create an expressive story with a cast of diverse personalities with such minimal details. The overwrought, screentoned background art of larger mangaka studios would take away from the charm of this story. It’s perfect the way it is.

Highlights for me this volume: The Hokkaido sunflower splash page was fun.
Taamo’s comments are always a treat.
I love how Mao insists on doing chores even though she’s terrible at it.

This was an important volume, storywise. First, there was the introduction to Daiki, Hiro’s brother, a new roommate and personality to shake things up at the house. With his arrival, the part time work setting where the drama will happen was established.

The second chapter was about Radical-san and Mao’s relationship as Mao revealed their shared love interest was her roommate.

The third chapter gave us a peek inside both the heads of Hiro and Mao’s dad. Now we know how Hiro feels towards Mao, and why he won’t show it. As for the dad, although the mangaka wants the reader to sympathize with him, I find his behavior revolting. He’s a terrible father. I find myself unwilling to forgive him.

The final chapter resolved the tension from the previous two chapters and gave the reader a romantic cliffhanger for the next volume.

Overall, a vital volume for the series. It was cute, charming, and lively.