Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun, the manga written and drawn by Aidalro begins its fifth volume, after a fourth which clearly contrasted with the previous volumes, by its more access to drama as well as its black cover, far from the warm colors which had dominated until then. For this fifth volume of the series published by Pika Edition, we therefore find yellow which presages a return to normal.
Moreover, remember that the last chapter of the previous volume ended on a rather positive note. Precisely for Nene Yashiro, since an attractive boy asked to speak to her. Anyway, the new chapters will be an opportunity to put our heroine to the test, but also to discover a new spirit of the school.
In the mood for love
Always juggling between genres, this volume of Toilet Bound opens with the kidnapping of our dear Nene. The seductive boy has set a trap for him. And as usual, our heroine saw nothing coming, because when it comes to feelings and boys, Nene becomes easy to trap. She will once again have to count on the help of her protector Hanako. First pages that put directly into the plot and announce the fairly fast pace of this volume. Indeed, barely delivered from her captors, Nene is embarked on a crusade against a new spirit, the three guardians of the clock. The latter control the weather and wreak havoc in the establishment. The adventures will follow each other well and there are some interesting revelations and twists to discover.
Unlike volume 4, this one is intended to be lighter, the dramatic dimension being clearly less highlighted. This partly stems from the greater presence of Nene Yashiro in this volume, while in the previous one it was Kô who held the central role of the plot. The presence of our heroine always brings this feeling of innocence and lightness. If there are still few characters to whom we really attach, it is clear that the trio Nene, Kô and Hanako works very well. We become attached to them over the chapters. Then Nene really brings that little something extra to the story with her character and her attitudes.
Rebellion
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Volume 5 is also an opportunity to discover a new character who has also been forced to accept a pact, like Nene who, as a reminder, turns into a fish if she comes into contact with water. This character will be able to offer a more critical view of events and minds, a more rebellious approach than Nene who obviously seems more and more linked to Hanako. We also see that Hanako-kun’s past has been coming back to her in the face for a few chapters. This dark liability still needs to be explored, but the author effectively manages to leave us waiting, distilling us scraps of leads and/or information here and there.
We take our troubles patiently, waiting for the fateful moment when the truth will be known. Given the current narrative pace, since the beginning of the series, Hanako is quite ambivalent, difficult to pin down his intentions and feelings, but with this past constantly catching up with him, it’s only a matter of time before the mask falls. Difficult to dwell on the subject without saying too much and repeating itself, but this volume 5 takes up the recipe of the first volumes. We are plunged back into the fight against the spirits and Nene like Hanako return to the center of the plot.
Should we fall for volume 5 of Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun?
For several chapters, Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun his universe unfolds for us with a very gripping mix of genres and a rhythm well controlled for the moment. The characters continue to gain a little more depth, the mysteries of the school are revealed little by little, just like the mysterious past of Hanako. By maintaining 5 volumes, it seems obvious that many revelations and adventures still await us. In addition, the trio of main characters shows enough relief for us to become attached to them and to believe in their links.
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And then the graphic style of Aidalro remains very nice and blends perfectly with the proposed universe. The overall character design is really good. A success also visible in the writing, the manga manages not to fall into the facility nor the silliness which could denote with the tone of the work. Aware that the series plays on several genres and must therefore guarantee a balance. Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun is off to a good start and still has a lot of surprises in store for us. So if you like the manga so far, no reason to stop halfway.