All right buckle up.

Some amendments to my Vol 1 review - the kid who is weak and we see at the end of the volume is Shiki, Akito & Shigure's son (a first year middle school student). Will wonders never cease.

Hanajima meanwhile appears to have a son as well, Ryo, who is a third year in middle school (but not a Sohma...so then did she not end up with Kazuma?).

Momiji and an unknown woman had a daughter, Mii, who's so darling. Momo is Momiji's assistant and quite close with Mii.

Ayame had two kids - a son Chizuru and a daughter Hibiki (who is a spitting image of her mother but practically Ayame in personality).

Hiro is mentioned, though little is said and Kisa not at all. I still think that Kinu is Hatori's kid (either Uotani & Kagure's kid or Hatori's), I..haven't seen anything about Ritsu.

Meanwhile the story itself is better paced and explained - I understand Mitoma better and she plays off Shiki well. And while it's hard not to compare every one against their parents I felt somewhat chastised by Chizuru who apparently is compared against his father (positively and negatively) fairly often. Yes yes I'll try to see them as individuals.

The ending bonus is a scene from Mutsuki's childhood where he's recounting his fav memory of home with his parents and how he learned about the Zodiac Curse from Yuki. In a scene that's far more emotional when you remember what Yuki's life was like as a kid, it gave some good insight into Mutsuki as well as how hard the Sohma Generation we all read about with Tohru are trying to not repeat those mistakes. ( )

This volume was is a lot better than volume 1. The story has really hit its stride with Sawa gaining more confidence and opening up to the Somas and her other friends and classmates. It’s beginning to get a little harder to track which new Soma is from which old Soma, but it’s still fun picking out their little behaviors and guessing. I’m also SUPER GEEKED that they introduced Ayame’s kids and Akito’s son in this volume. I can’t wait to see how Shiki’s interest in Sawa pans out, as well as how Sawa’s relationships with all the Somas develops. Most of all I want to see Sawa stand up to her abusive mother. There’s so much that needs to be resolved, it’s hard to believe the next volume will be the last!

My two major criticisms with the last volume were the choppy dialog, and Sawa being so pathetic. This volume however really got things right. Sawa’s way more relatable, and the dialogue has smoothed out a lot more compared to the last volume. Still a couple choppy parts and eye-roll moments, but a lot easier to get through.

This volume really amps up the nostalgia trip from original Fruits Basket. To quote Sawa, “I feel kind of sparkly inside.” I might just have to pick up the original and reread it again! ( )