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The tagged series was the first manga I fell in love with and will forever be my favorite ❤️

Couldn't resist buying it! Didn't help it was on sale. Anyone else out there who's a Fruits basket fan?

The Sohmas are free. What does that mean? The manga leaves us as they are all beginning their new journeys. The end is as hopeful as the entirety of the series. It was the appropriate closure I needed. I know some have felt that Akito changed too fast but I think it‘s clear that she has work to do and that it will take everyone some time. This series has the underlying theme of the power of love and hope. Love always wins.

Akito is crumbling to bits, right along with the curse. Can Tohru reach them? Is it really ever too late for change? (I don‘t want to give spoilers, so I‘ll leave my review at this…) ☺️ This moment between Yuki and Kyo was cathartic.

There are so many revelations and breakthroughs happening in this volume. We delve deeper into Tohru‘s psyche as well. But perhaps the biggest piece of the puzzle is revealed: Why Akito is the way they are. Her mother and father were polar opposites in parenting styles yet, in my opinion, equally damaging. Akito is in need of saving just as much, if not more, than the rest of the Zodiac members. Meanwhile, the curse is spiraling out of existence.

These poor kids. As a future teacher, this volume really brings home the fact that kiddos have so much going on in their lives besides school. Kureno spills some major family beans to Tohru. Akito‘s treatment of Rin is creating cracks in the Zodiac bond. Picture: Enjoy a cute little moment between Tohru and Kyo.

This is a tough one. Turns out, Tohru‘s Mom (Kyoko) & Dad (Katsuya) had an unnerving age gap. Kyoko was in her final year of middle school (Japanese equivalent to 9th grade in the US) and he was a teacher-in-training… So that‘s what? At best, 16 and 21? My mother-in-law had a similar age gap w/ 1st husband, but…The rest of the volume was kinda “meh” for me. Things will pick up soon, I‘m sure, since I‘m only 4 volumes shy of finishing the series.

This is more background-centric but, again, totally necessary. My favorite moment (I think it‘s in this volume) is when Ayame comes through for his little brother, Yuki, during parent-teacher conferences. Their mother is not an ideal parent, aloof, neglectful, perhaps even abusive. Aya proves its never too late to be present, to show up, to make a difference in someone‘s life. Just be there.

While Tohru and Akito have met briefly before, there is a full-on confrontation between them at the summer home, since Akito is a total ass with zero impulse control. There is so much under the surface in this manga. While Tohru has been inciting real change in those around her, she has been changing too. I am so proud of her. Tohru may seem like a pushover but not when it concerns those she loves.