This is it. This is the time where the enemy is finally making its presence known, which means Takuma and the Valkyries are in some trouble. Takuma is definitely in big trouble as he’s been stabbed by Inukai and is held hostage. The valkyries are also in major trouble as the students have been possessed, and monsters roam the school and threaten the bodies of the nine girls. Without Takuma around to help, how will they manage to solve this problem now?
Well, not surprisingly, it involves a long erotic nude scene and maybe a battle or two.
Val x Love volume 3 is all battles, all survival, and all about getting naked. From Itsuyo and Mutsumi getting assaulted to a major battle between Futuba and Inukai, there are definitely some highlights in this one. But there are also some lowlights too, which ultimately come down to story telling and entertainment. I think there’s better harem/ecchi entertainment out there, and this series doesn’t feel like it’s improved since volume 1.
Now, the good parts that most are looking forward to still remain — heck, it’s probably kicked up a notch! This is undoubtedly the lewdest volume yet, as Takuma and Natsuki sneak a chance to grow a level. The date this time — french kiss…in the nude! And it’s not a short scene either. It’s fairly long, and the drawings for that, the rest of the ecchi scenes, and Futuba’s battle were drawn really well. But some of the battles were long. Maybe too long. And they’re not always choreographed in a good way, which only makes things drag.
The story at this point has some things I like, but after three volumes, I can’t really care about it. Takuma’s scary look is different, but overall the manga follows the general beats of an ecchi to a tee. There’s also a moment that happens in the climax of Val X Love involving him that feels too convenient. It was a pivotal moment for sure, but that way didn’t feel set up properly. Another thing not set up properly are any of the comedy aspects, which either aren’t funny or not timed properly. You’d think especially with how some of it is drawn it’d be laugh out loud in some instances too, but none of it really makes me laugh that much, so that’s fairly disappointing.
Overall, Val x Love isn’t quite the worst read ever, nor is it the best read ever. It sits squarely in the middle, and I’m worried it’s not gonna go up after that. If you’re reading this manga for the drawings, this is likely worth continuing. Maybe things will be better since this school arc gets resolved, but we’ll have to see how these Valkyries continue to deal with Takuma, and vice versa, and if it’s entertaining at all.