Title: 妹 (Akane) Vol. 12 "Time Limit"
Artist/Author: 山花典之 (Noriyuki Yamahana)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 194pp., w/o furigana
Volume: 12/14
Original Serialization: Weekly Young Jump Vol 42, '02 - Vol 50, '02
First Printing: 2/24/03
Rating: 3/4

Just two more books to go. Like most stories featuring teens, the fact that they attend school seems to drift into the background. Way back in the earlier volumes, Akane's intelligence and problems at school were a big focus of the story, but that hasn't come up in these later chapters. I do like how the story has turned to Akane and her mother, especially in this volume where she finally gets to meet her and speak her mind.

Color page features Akane in a cowgirl outfit to match the bonus chapter that's set in the wild wild west.

119. ミラノの空 (Skies of Milano): Akane lies to her brother telling him that she's going to be studying and staying at Emily's house for a week and doesn't want him to visit nor call. She uses that time to fly to Milano, Italy with Rei to visit her biological mother whose currently hospitalized.

120. 母の訪ねて (Visiting Mother): Akane and Rei ask a local Italian jeweler about the designer of Eriko Brand jewelry they have on display. Word gets to Akane's mom that her daughter has come to see her.

121. すれ違い (Disagreement): Despite the doctor's warnings, the mother leaves her hospital bed temporarily to see her daughter. She expects a pleasant lunch, but Akane just thanks her for giving birth to her and tells her that her mother (Shinpei's) is her real mother and that she doesn't want to live with her.

122. ナミダ・涙 (Tears): After seeing her daughter off at the airport, Eriko collapses.

123. 知らないこと (The Unknown): Eriko requires immediate surgery. Back home, Akane embraces a puzzled Shinpei. Mio then tells Shinpei that she has something important about Akane that he should know.

124. Time limit: Mio informs Shinpei that Akane accidentally found out about her biological mother. Later that day, Eriko's lawyer lets Shinpei know about Eriko's condition. Shinpei then tells Akane the truth about her mother and her terminal illness. He leaves it up to her whether she wants to live with him or her mother.

125. 大切な妹 (Treasured Sister): Akane talks to everything asking what she should do.

126. 兄がしてあげられること (The Thing Brother Can Do For You): Rei has a 15-year old aspiring stylist to give Akane a makeover. Shinpei gets a visit from Aya (the lady at the used car dealership with the brother-complex a few books back) where she talks to Shinpei about Akane's decisions.

127. lovely baby: Akane visits Mio and her baby, "Soul" and has a bath with the infant. She wants to have a baby with Shinpei. Later, Shinpei gets a visit from Eriko's lawyer again and the topic of alimony comes up. Shinpei tells her that he's never seen any of Eriko's money.

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