Much of the book covers the same ground as book one until Mizuki’s brother appears. In volume two, Sano’s rival Kaguraza is introduced to provide more competition.
Her discovery of his bad boy ways opens the door for him to torment her in a way that reminded me of Hot Gimmick, but his teasing hides deeper feelings for her. While staying with her family, Toko’s cousin shows an angelic face to everyone but her. The first volume contains a bonus story, “The Cage of Summer”. Occasional romantic moments are punctuated with border art of lace and feathers to underscore the presence of lighter feelings that could be deflated at any moment. It’s an exquisite torture, where she must keep her identity secret, symbolizing the isolation of adolescence. Mizuki is in constant close contact with the object of her adoration, but she fears that he will never know her true self.
On a deeper level, the book is about what it’s like to be a teenager in love. Sitcom-like setups feature someone climbing into the wrong bed while asleep or kissing while drunk or delirious from sickness. At times, it’s farcical, with Mizuki thinking “but he doesn’t know I’m a girl” while someone else thinks “she doesn’t know I know she’s a girl”. There’s a great blend of comedy and deeper feelings that keeps a frothy, entertaining balance while still providing themes to think about. This series captures the potency of touch, as the casual physical contact of Mizuki’s schoolmates causes her concern and sometimes emotional overreaction. The school doctor quickly figures out Mizuki’s secret and becomes her confidant, identifying with her because of a secret of his own.
He’s attracted to Mizuki but fighting it hard for fear that means he’s gay, in a subplot reminiscent of Victor/Victoria. Nakatsu, a good-hearted show-off, completes the triangle. Her dreams contrast with what’s best for him, so she must also learn to be selfless.
Her enthusiasm is inspirational, but she has to keep reminding herself not to be too “girly” in order to keep her secret. They grow closer as friends but are kept apart by her masquerade. She’s determined to see Sano jump again, but as she works towards inspiring him, she realizes how little she knows about the boy behind her fantasy. Her outspoken, “foreign” ways quickly tag her as a weirdo in the other students’ eyes, while her good luck gets her rooming with the object of her crush only to discover that he’s quit competing. Now she’s attending the same boys’ school he does. She’d been living in America, but after seeing Izumi Sano compete in the high jump, she developed a crush on him. Mizuki has returned to Japan to pursue her dreams, even if it means pretending to be a boy. This modern comedy of gender roles by Hisaya Nakajo, subtitled For You in Full Blossom, is populated with androgynously cute teenagers sporting beautiful faces framed with sprays of bangs.
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