While the clock keeps ticking down their third year of high school, the gang is torn between the ones who are being good exam students (Alice, Aya) and those who are not, either because they’re playing around (Karen) or just lacking in the academic department (Youko).
Either way, this is much of the same Kiniro Mosaic that readers have come to love. A study session ends with Honoka wearing a bird costume. A shared dream turns into a story involving Aya’s fictional alter ego quitting office work to become an idol. Shinobu proves she knows very little about her country’s holidays and celebrations. The girls fangirl over each other. The manga also continues its tradition of including a sweet, non-4-koma story, this time starring Youko’s family.
However, Aya puts her foot down and says no trip for the girls if anyone does badly on their semester exams. And if you think that should be the parents’ job, don’t worry — there’s a chapter where Alice plays the mom who is worried about her daughter’s (Shinobu’s) future. Of course, with Karen planning the trip, no one knows what to expect. That’s how Honoka ends up in the bird costume: she’s preparing herself mentally in case Karen organizes a skydiving trip or something of the sort. But don’t worry; all the girls end up going on vacation, and Karen has even invited the teachers to get the studious girls to join in on the fun of a race that combines athleticism with academic knowledge.
However, that’s probably the volume’s biggest weakness. You know right from the color illustration at the front that there’s going to be some kind of summer outing, and it takes quite a while to get there (a little over halfway through the volume). The strips before are funny — very much so, in some cases. But I couldn’t help but wish they took place after summer break. Plus, the second day is really short. Most of it is the friends discussing their future plans (or lack of). It’s a scene that could have taken place at school rather than at the beach.
The opening was also a bit slow, featuring the girls worrying about if they’re too old for a candy store and Isami failing at cooking. However, the opening full-color comics gives readers a taste of things to come, and it’s enough to carry Kiniro Mosaic through until “Tale of O.L. Ayaya”, which I’d love to become a recurring gag even this late in the game.
I don’t know how much longer it will be until the end of Kiniro Mosaic, but this volume reminds me of why I’ll miss it. Karen may dominate the fun, but it’s just a light, fun read.