Contains Chapters 31 - 36: This volume was great! I really liked Mizuki's friend Julia, especially the way her and Nakatsu were always fighting and how they were able to argue despite not speaking the same language or understanding what the other was saying. ( )

As always, tons of fun! I feel like that's all I ever say about Hana-Kimi, but it's true. It's just so much FUN. We're now getting some Sano backstory, which I'm actually interested in. I just really like Sano's and Mizuki's characters, and they go so well together. It's getting interestingly complicated with Nakatsu, Julia, Nanba, and Nakao, and it generally results in hilarity. Normally these kinds of things bug me, but the reactions of Mizuki and Sano just make it all okay. ( )

The story continues with the aftermath of Julia's shocking "revelation" that concluded the last volume - that she and Mizuki are together. Julia is attempting to provoke Sano, but mainly manages to rile up Nakatsu, who begins an intense and funny rivalry with Julia from this point on. This manga volume felt like filler material for me, at least for part of it. The dynamics between Julia and the boys from Osaka are amusing, but the plot isn't forwarded much. We get a few hints about Sano's family, and see him acting broody, but the momentum doesn't pick up until the trip to Hokkaido. Once the gang arrive at their school trip destination, the manga hit its stride again, blending comedy and romance and friendship, along with novel scenes of the new city that made me want to travel to Japan (again). In Hokkaido, Ashiya watches as Sano confronts his brother, Shin, who appears to be quite a troublemaker. Shin is unrepentant, though, and blows Sano off, accusing him of having no rights since he abandoned his family. The volume ends with this confrontation, which will no doubt be expanded upon in volume 8. I am interested in Sano's history, but the plot lacks the fun and excitement of earlier arcs, such as the festival games or Ashiya's entry into the school. I feel like the series has hit the middle stretch now, where stories drag a bit and some of the innovation and spark is missing. This was still a fun read, just not as good as earlier books in the series. On the plus side, we meet Shin, and add another hot boy to the ranks of characters. Hana Kimi is ever conscious of appeasing its female fans. ( )