Lots of emotional development in this volume. I'm finally starting to understand Asumi as a character. She really wants everyone (I mean, EVERYONE) to be able to go into space. Clearly, that's not going to happen, but I'm interested to see how it won't.Also, we FINALLY get some backstory on ice queen type Marika. Not surprisingly, a somewhat tragic, sheltered existence is part of the cause of her weirdness. But I still don't understand how she ended up at Space School.I really like the postscript bits at the end of each volume (entitled Another Spica), but I don't quite understand them. Are they really autobiographical? Regardless, I love their wistful tone. ( )