Blue Flag Vol. 6by Wolfen MoondaughterReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 9 Futaba struggles deciding which school to go to; she and Taichi both have to consider whether or not it's right to take each other into consideration when deciding. Mami blows up at Kensuke over his behavior towards her and other girls. Toma and his brother continue to be estranged, which stresses out Akio, Toma's pregnant sister-in-law. During a school festival -- and outside of it -- frank discussions are had, and confessions are made.I appreciate that, while Taichi and Futaba's relationship does get some spotlight, it's more of an undercurrent to a story about life, rather than the main event. I also appreciate that, while it's clear Taichi does like Futaba, we also get signs of him having feelings for Toma, even if he doesn't seem quite ready to recognise them for what they are. (And as someone who is not a fan of crowds, I appreciate that the manga-ka made a point of how hard it can be to be dragged through crowded events so that you can spend time with friends.) I continue to love how deftly this series handles philosophical discussions, with how well both sides of sensitive topics are given due consideration. The story treats teen lives as the complex things they really are but are seldom depicted as, showing how the idea of "normalcy" can hinder people's lives by limiting their options and perceptions, and making them feel like they need to hide who they really are. Mami in particular is wonderfully used to point out the downsides to romantic entanglements, and remind us that simple friendship across genders should be just as accepted as romantic relationships, without any gender-related expectations foisted on people. Masumi and Akiko, meanwhile, is well used (in a perfectly awkward way) to explore whether one can balance one's personal identity with societal and familial expectations, and still find happiness. And Toma and Taichi have an interesting discussion that deftly demonstrates how people may not be having as easy of a time as one might thing, while also reminding us of what blessings we might take for granted. And that ending! Things got a little vague leading up to it, but at the same time, that kind of fit the situation, and left us wondering until the right moment. I'm really puzzled why one character reacted to a revelation the way they did; I'm just as keen to learn more about that situation as I am to see what happens next with the cliffhanger! Written: February 13, 2021
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