Sweet Blue Flowers Volume 3 (Review)

By: EyeSpyeAlexFunny, endearing, and a little sexy.Those are the words I would use to describe the latest volume of Sweet Blue Flowers. This latest volume wastes no time in exploring the different relationships of the characters. Need to catch up? Check out my previous review here.With Akira still uncomfortable with Fumi’s confession, the two awkwardly avoid each other as much as possible. That all changes on the day of the play, when Akira’s class performs Rokumeikan. Fumi gives Akira a bouquet and reminds her that she’s always been a strong person and a great actress. This lightens up their friendship to the point where the two can speak politely to each other...until they go away for summer vacation. Haruka - having invited them all to her grandfather’s inn in Hakone - suggests they go in the bath. Being so exposed to each other causes Akira and Fumi to rekindle the tension between them.That all changes when Akira has a sudden sleepover at Fumi’s house after the vacation. Having been coerced by her parents into spending the night, Akira is at first uncomfortable with the situation. She slowly begins to open up and realizes that nothing has really changed between her and Fumi. Feeling emboldened, Akira suggests that the two date, which both shocks and excites Fumi. While the pair find dating to be just as easy as hanging out, the physical aspect of being in a relationship is still foreign and awkward for Akira. When she and Fumi drink champagne on Christmas day, Fumi drunkenly licks some cake off of Akira’s face. This make Akira immediately uncomfortable and she does her best to sober up Fumi before the situation can progress any further.While Fumi and Akira try to figure out their relationship and feelings for each other, Kyoko must deal with her own. When Ko first suggests that the two end their engagement, Kyoko thinks he’s joking. When she realizes that he isn’t, she then tries to bargain with him and convince him that they should stay together. Ko is firm in his dissolving of their engagement, and Kyoko is forced to handle being rejected by her love interest once again. Exploring these two relationships was great, but with seemingly no tension or build up to the outcomes it’s hard to feel strongly one way or the other about the resolution.This volume of Sweet Blue Flowers did a lot in exploring how the viewpoint on same-sex relationships has changed over the years. Akira views the possibility of dating a woman with optimism and open-mindedness. Haruka even views her older sister Orie’s relationship with curiosity rather than revulsion. As we see in the short involving Maeda and Nakajima, women who were out used to be bullied relentlessly. While the goal to strive for is acceptance, curiosity is a better starting point than disgust.On top of exploring the plot really well, Sweet Blue Flowers Volume 3 had some great illustrations. There was a lot of detail put into the expressions of Akira and Fumi. From them just blushing to Fumi’s drunk face, we are treated to a wide range of emotions. We were also given the great Fumi Silent Freakout face, which will live on in infamy in this article. All in all, just a really great volume which has me excited for the next release.Fans of Sweet Blue Flowers can purchase Volume 3 in stores now, or read it online here on the Viz Media website. Sweet Blue Flowers Volume 4, which will be the final volume in the series, will be available for purchase on June 19, 2018.Note: Viz Media provided us with a digital copy of this manga in exchange for our honest review.