Trigger Warning: suicide attempt

This volume was a lot about the making of the movie the gang is making and also about Shoya figuring out his connection with the group.

I really enjoyed that the author isn’t skipping out on harder subjects. This manga is a lot about abuse (physically and mentally), call-out culture, and toxic behaviors.

As for the art; I do also really enjoy when Shoya doesn’t like someone, there’s just a giant X over their face, and then when he’s on better terms with them again, the X goes away and you can see their face. It really conveys the dislike and how unbothered Shoya is with them.

I’ve said this so many times while reading and reviewing this series but I am SO GLAD I HAVE THE WHOLE SERIES RIGHT NOW. THAT ENDING! ( )

The film adaptation was great, and I'm loving the greater detail afforded by the original seven volume manga series. ( )

Tomohiro's movie-making plans fall apart when it's revealed to all that Shoya was once Shoko's bully, and that several others in the group were either involved or did nothing to stop him. Shoya loses nearly all his friends but tries to keep going and stay happy for Shoko's sake. However, Shoko sees this whole thing as being her fault – she believes that nothing good comes of being with her. So, at the end of the volume she decides to commit suicide by jumping out of a window in her home. Shoya catches her just in time.

Remember that teacher from volume 1 who was a horrible asshole who should never have been put in charge of kids? Well, Shoya got to see him again in this volume, and he was just as much of a horrible asshole. He basically said that Shoko's very existence guaranteed that there were going to be problems in the class. Never mind that he could have done more to stop it since, you know, he was the adult in the room.

I have no idea how I feel about this volume. Shoya was once again abandoned by just about everyone, and Shoko was totally not kidding about hating herself. Despite her constant sweet smile, she must have been hiding as much self-hatred as Shoya. The main characters in this series are enormous pits of self-hatred, and it's terrible.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.) ( )

4.25 ( )