The author noodles around with the main characters and all the established relationships in perfectly fine ways (well, except for the still creepy student/teacher quasi-romance), but what elevates this volume to being the best one in the series are storylines involving some of the side characters.

Goofball Kenji Kato brings the comedy as he tries to help a distressed girl who is trying to avoid being caught in a lie about how she is dating an upperclassman. Hijinks and misunderstandings abound. And the girl is totally appealing to a big tsundere fan like me.

Aoi Shiki brings the drama as she struggles with her huge crush on the female lead of the series, dreaming of somehow winning her away from her oh-so-perfect boyfriend. The school nurse is the only one aware of Aoi's crush and becomes a confidante and advisor. But in helping, she reveals something of herself that brings all the feels in the volume's climax. ( )