After a quick chapter to resolve last volume's suicide pact cliffhanger, there is a jump in time and space. Kasuga's parents have moved him away from the town where the actions of Kasuga and the two girls involved a romantic triangle with him caused such a shameful uproar. Now in high school, Kasuga keeps to himself and maintains a low profile until a fellow bookworm starts to pull him out of his shell. After having gone so far over the top, the creator pulls back and spins a more traditional shojo romantic arc for this section of the story. There is darkness around the edges, of course, but having followed a Catcher in the Rye storyline of teen alienation in the first two volumes, this one seems to be exploring the possibility of repentance and redemption à la Crime and Punishment.

I wish I had the next volume right now. Must be patient... ( )