Abe-kun’s Got Me Now! volume 5 continues right where the previous left off: with Abe busting into a second-year classroom demanding to talk to someone named Ryomei, who looks nervous about seeing Abe.
With good reason too — Abe is outraged Ryomei is not participating in the upcoming tournament because of a still-injured foot. Although Akari tries to smooth over the situation, Abe pulls away with a, “This has nothing to do with you!” That harsh comment hits Akari right in the heart, and her dedication to Abe and learning karate for him takes a hit. Fortunately, Kozue has no problem offering advice to her, and Akari then tries to learn why Ryomei is lying about his foot still bothering him.
I have to give author Iwai credit for setting up what could have been a dragged-out misunderstanding between the couple since Akari suddenly starts hanging out with Ryomei. Not only that, with Ryomei hiding from Abe, it seemed like a ripe opening for the usual blossoming of a love triangle. However, the real love triangle is between Abe, Ryomei, and karate. As Ryomei explains, he took up karate simply because his father runs a dojo. As a child, he was teased for being a coward despite his height, and a short Abe runs up to defend him. Abe follows Ryomei to the dojo, and Abe the karate lover was born. As you can guess, Ryomei began to feel inferior as the years went by, and the forced break because of his foot gave him time to enjoy a more relaxing high school life. Thus, Ryomei’s lie about his foot still not being healed enough to compete.
Abe-kun’s Got Me Now! volume 5 is centered around Ryomei, but there are still plenty of Abe-Akari moments. After her initial depression, Akari attempts to take the initiative. Of course, Abe keeps one-upping her, although even he is taken to task by Takuto and others over the “none of your business” comment. His moment when he busts into Akari and Ryomei’s secret meeting is much better, as it both shows off his confidence with Akari and how much Ryomei has meant to him. It’s also enough of a gotcha moment for those two to add some humor even when Abe is acting deadly serious. Even though they discussed it a bit earlier, Akari and Ryomei are both reminded it’s really hard to get away from Abe’s grasp, romantically or platonically.
That’s meant to be humorous, but I don’t think the art was meant to be. I know Abe was short for his age and Ryomei tall, but dang, that’s quite a height difference for only being a year apart…and quite the monkey faces.
Chances are though, if you’ve made it this far into the series, you’re getting used to Iwai’s art oddities in favor of the muscles. Even Akari is impressed to finally meet a karate club member who isn’t a gorilla (Ryomei), and his handsomeness combined with his passive personality and understandable jealousy might give shoujo fans who find Abe a little much someone to hang their proverbial hat on here in Abe-kun’s Got Me Now!‘s fifth volume. I just hope he doesn’t fad into the background like Takuto…