After much studying a new language and training, we see Kanade set out for Marseille in France. Can you believe due to the host parent having to go to the bathroom Kanade got lost? Well in one way, it was lucky that she ran into someone she knows because she stayed up super late to watch Sakura compete in the Youth America Grand Prix — Andrea Mendoza.
In another way, maybe not so lucky, as she meets Andrea at the worst possible time.
The Magnificent Grand Scene, while maintaining the usual manga elements, has been realistic in detailing the strengths and struggles of pursuing ballet professionally. It doesn’t get more realistic than this: Andrea, from Venezuela, meets Kanade, who is Japanese. There is an obvious language barrier that already would be tough to overcome in normal cases. For Andrea, her country is engulfed in riots. So she’s not only concerned about her family, but she’s doing so far away from them.
Combine that with not only Kanade lacking awareness of personal space but her awful French, these two can’t connect. None of this is done intentionally — but it’s just reality, and one that shows how fundamentally different these two are. Well, except in one area: ballet. As they each take part in the same rigorous lessons, they soon discover they’re one and the same. Andrea’s better, but it’s clear in that area they’re not so different. That likely will be one of the ways the two will be able to understand each other as actual rivals.
As mentioned earlier, it is realistic for athletes to be working on their craft but also having to do so with varying degrees of turmoil either of their own doing or not their fault. When we first met Andrea, not only did she stick out to Kanade over a phone screen in Japan, but she made a massive impression on Sakura, a talent in her own right. But at that time, we met her through the perspective of two different people.
In The Magnificent Grand Scene volume 10, we know more about Andrea up close. As in, what she happens to be doing while her family is living in a hostile country. How despite that, she still shines in front of her also talented peers. And because of her talent, an opportunity that allows her to showcase that talent on a large scale appears that she couldn’t pass up. But throughout her brief online chats with her family and her language struggles with Kanade, it’s tearing her up inside.
This manga found a way to introduce a seemingly secondary character and make that character stand out. Note: that’s not easy. There are many manga where you’ll forget who they were a day later, and certainly will in months. But it usually comes down to how you approach them, which it feels like Cuvie is teaching a master class in. Ultimately, your main character is that for a reason — this is surely setting up to be where Kanade gains something from meeting Andrea. But from how Andrea deals with her troubles to how everyone reacts to her, that side character’s brought to life in a way that allows us to care for their future.
While a ton of things have stood out so far in The Magnificent Grand Scene, the many identifiable characters enrich this from just merely a ballet manga to something special. And can you believe it’s not even just the usual characters? They even brought back the teacher from the “Let’s Dance For Fun” Class to start this volume! Yes, the teacher, Tamaki, is awesome. Sure she did accidentally fall sleep before the class she was supposedly teaching as a substitute, but in mere pages we got her personality and experience in a fun way. We know she seemed more than capable after teaching Kanade way back when. Now we see her teaching professionals, and she even performs herself.
Now, the big reason this is the case is because these characters ultimately impact Kanade’s growth. Right now her biggest challenge is something she’s poorly handing: understanding Andrea. She has made many rivals and friends, and even connected with a few other dancers in this volume. But the language barrier and Andrea’s situation proves to be something Kanade’s struggling with; combine that with her taking lessons, and her study abroad trip proves difficult. Will be curious to see how she can solve that, but I’m especially curious how the manga ends up handing Andrea’s situation.
But I’ve caught up to all the official releases, and so, it’s time to wait with much…much patience…