 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | VIZ MEDIA | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | SHOUKU AKIRA | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 192 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | T | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 12/01/2009 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 12/01/2009 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | RACHEL BENTHAM |
Two years have passed since Haruna first came to the place she dubbed Monkey High. And two years since she fell in love with her monkey boy Macharu. They’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but they will face their toughest challenge yet when her father arranges for a marriage for her and it isn’t Macharu! The final volume holds a number of precious moments, pivotal ones, and sentimental feelings. First the couple goes off to Nagano to the hot springs in order to be alone together. They have their first time, having obviously made up from the earlier misunderstanding in last volume. When they return it is to face university entrance exams and a major café rivalry for the upcoming school festival. It’s a lot of work but a lot of fun until her father comes back home and has a shocking announcement – she now has a fiancé! Gotoda is all smooth and in Haruna’s every step. He’s her dad’s right hand man and he’s intent on getting the girl he wants. Her father chose it solely for the benefits it would gain him financially and socially. She’s hurt, angry and upset but falls into old patterns by keeping it from Macharu. When he finds out, he steps up and tells her dad that he won’t be giving Haruna back! He takes her to move in with him! Suddenly she finds herself living with Macharu. So far it is going okay until Gotoda corners her and plays dirty by upping her fears and self-doubts. He tells her she is only a burden to Macharu and the worst is that she believes him! It’s something she’s worried about since day one and now it is making her second guess everything. The school festival arrives and each of the boys and girls are busy at their respective cafes. When Macharu spies Gotoda and Haruna’s dad he again steps up, gets Gotoda set aside so that Macharu can have some one on one time with Haruna’s father. He man’s up and tells her father what for and even if the crusty guy doesn’t listen, how can anyone not respect Macharu for laying it all on the line? From there Macharu helps Haruna have a private chat with dear old dad and she too has surprising things to say to her pops. She’s going home, but she’s making it clear just who she wants. Stuff between her and her dad may not be fixed, but Haruna is okay with going back home. Macharu is almost okay with that except for one thing – he proposes! He wants her to be his fiancée. Afterwards there are exams, graduation and the start of university. All good things must come to an end and Monkey High does so with warm sentimentality and good vibes. Bonus features include a bonus story about Atsu, postscript from the author and cultural notes.
IN SUMMARY:
All good things come to a sweetheart of an ending in the final volume of Monkey High! |
