Title: 妹 (Akane) Vol. 2 "Friends"
Artist/Author: 山花典之 (Noriyuki Yamahana)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 225pp., w/o furigana
Volume: 2/14
Original Serialization: Weekly Young Jump Vol 29, '00 - Vol 41, '00
First Printing: 12/16/00
Rating: 3/4

The story is diverging from the initial release of this series. Marina faces different trials when she tries to befriend Akane. The whole story with Chako the dog is a bit different and there's a new character in the story. I'm still enjoying the story a lot.

The book comes with a color page and a little warning in the back pages. Since there's smoking and alcohol drinking in this volume, it kind reminds people to not engage in those activities being underaged and to be responsible.

12. 歓迎の儀式 (Welcoming Ceremony): Before Akane leaves for her first day, Shinpei makes her promise not to get in a fight. However, she's met with an unfriendly welcome from a few students at school and tries to keep her promise.

13. 義兄妹 (Step-Siblings): It gets to be too much so she attacks in self defense. Shinpei learns about this and they get in an argument. During work that night, he thinks about it and decides to apologize. He's too focused on thinking that he gets in an accident. Akane comes back and they make up. A returning student, 摩耶 (Maya) is back.

14. MARINA（前編） (Marina, First Part): There's a student, まりな (Marina), who Maya enjoys picking on. Since Maya is back, she gets Marina in the pool and almost drowns her, just to remind her of who is the boss. During the abuse, Akane jumps in and rescues Marina, much to Maya's dislike. Marina and Akane become friends, but Maya won't allow it so when Akane's not around, she gets abused some more.

15. MARINA (後編） (Marina, Last Part): Marina has suddenly stop talking to Akane because of Maya. After she steals some CDs for Maya, she sits atop a hill where Akane and Shinpei spot her and they go and have a treat. Marina comments on how nice the siblings are. Later, Marina gets some more abuse and Akane comes, gives Maya a slap (something that's never happened to her before) and gets Marina out of there.

16. 菜々子さん (Nanako): As Akane is out playing one day, she spots a cute small dog, Chako, and it's owner, Nanako. Nanako is from a high social class, excels at the violin, but has health problems. She can't keep the dog, so she asks Akane to take care of him and allow her to see him. At first Shinpei disagrees, but when he sees Nanako, he falls in love. The day after, Nanako is going to a concert, but her driver has chest pains so Shinpei grabs a bike and takes her to her concert.

17. 微妙な気持ち (Delicate Feelings): After the concert, they have a dinner and Shinpei is invited. Being rather poor, he doesn't score high marks with the family. However, Nanako disagrees and as he is leaving, she decides to go with him to take a stroll. He comes home that night and Akane is quite suspicious as to what he has been doing.

18. 慎平恋をする (Shinpei in Love): Shinpei is madly in love with Nanako. While they're eating some beef bowl, Akane lets him know that she has Nanako's number. As he's trying to grab the phone to dial the number, he hugs Akane which she notices makes her heart beat a little faster. They go out to the park and talk a bit about their childhood. Akane then gets a call from Nanako and makes Shinpei pick it up. A date is arranged.

19. 渚の出来事 (Happenings at the Beach): Akane, Nanako, Shinpei, and a few other friends go to the beach. Because of a motorized boat causing the water to get rough, Nanako falls out of her row boat and into the water. She struggles in the water but can't get herself to swim because she has a weak heart (physically). Shinpei goes in and rescues her.

20. 夜の海岸 (Seaside at Night): They enjoy a night out with fireworks and Shinpei and Nanako spend some quiet time together. Later that night, Akane asks Shinpei whether he loves Nanako. He's reluctant to answer, but Akane seems to be bothered by his obvious showing of affection.

21. 優等生 (Honor Student): There's a genius girl, 月島絵美梨 (Emily Tsukishima), at school. She's also a "goodie-goodie" which makes her quite despised, especially from the girls who smoke. Her family isn't doing so well financially though, so her dad has to seek some help from the parents of one of the bad girls. That girl finds out about it and makes Emily kneel and bow before her as well as making her smoke.

22. 負けない (I Won't Give Up): Akane and Marina see Emily, who has her arm injured from being stabbed by a pencil. They bandage her up, but she lies about the cause of her injury. That night they have a nice dinner together at Akane's apartment. The next day, she gets in trouble with the bad girls again. Marina sees her being taken off so she follows them into a disco club. At the club, Marina knows there's trouble so she phones Akane. Meanwhile, Emily is made to drink an entire bottle of whiskey.

23. Friends: Emily is about to pass out when Akane shows up. She and Marina help drink the rest of the bottle in a show of solidarity. After they finish the bottle and in a sense have a victory, they all pass out.

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