Title: 櫻の一番 (Sakura's Best) Vol. 5
Artist/Author: 影崎由那 (Yuna Kagezaki)
Book Size/Pages: A-5, 172pp., w/furigana
Volume: 5/5
Original Serialization: Monthly Comic Dragon 10/02-2/03
First Printing: 4/1/03
Rating: 3/4

Being the last volume, I had expected a little more from the ending especially since I liked the previous volumes. It have a great conclusion, but it's enough to finish up the story and tie things up with Asami and her brother.

Bonus includes color pages, omake manga, and the usual author's 4 panel comic.

21.深い闇を越えるために（其ノ壱） (In Order to Get Over The Darkness, First Part)
22. 深い闇を越えるために（其ノ弐） (In Order to Get Over The Darkness, Second Part)
23. 深い闇を越えるために（其ノ参） (In Order to Get Over The Darkness, Third Part)
24. ココロの帰る場所（前編） (The Place Where the Heart Goes Back To, First Part)
25. ココロの帰る場所（後編） (The Place Where the Heart Goes Back To, Last Part)

Title: 美鳥の日々 (Midori no Hibi) Vol. 7
Artist/Author: 井上和郎 (Kazurou Inoue)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 190pp., w/furigana
Volume: 7/8
Original Serialization: Weekly Shonen Sunday Vol 13, '04 - Vol 21, '04
First Printing: 7/15/03
Rating: 3/4

This volume was pretty much like volume 6. All the stories were pretty good, but nothing really stood out. From the build-up in the last few chapters it seems like the last volume is going to be good.

Bonus includes a bonus chapter with Seiji and Midori back in the old samurai days. An omake manga and 4 panel comic on the back flap is also included.

66. 恥辱の女 (Humiliated Woman)
67. 以心伝心 (Telepathy)
68. 秘めた想い (Stored Feelings)
69. ケンカ野球 (Fighting Baseball)
70. 父と息子 (Father and Son)
71. 友の存在 (The Presence of Friends)
72. 送別会 (Farewell Party)
73. さよならルーシィ (Goodbye Lucy)
74. ガマンの限界 (The Limits to Restraint)

Title: 舞-HiME (Mai-Hime) Vol. 1
Artist: 佐藤健悦 (Kenetsu Satou)
Story: キムラノボル (Kimuranoboru)
Original Creator: 矢立肇 (Hajime Yatate)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 200pp., w/furigana
Original Serialization: Weekly Shonen Champion Vol 38, '04 - Vol 45, '04
First Printing: 12/10/04
Rating: 2/4

It's a little strange that a weekly would have an anime tie-in. I'd expect a post-anime manga to show up in Dengeki Daioh or the likes, not in Champion.

I like the artwork with the only exception being the character's faces drawn at an angle. The artist draws them pretty poorly in my opinion (isn't this one of the basic angles that all illustrators have to know how to draw well?). The action and other scenes are good though. The blurb on the back of the cover claims that this is an original story. Not having seen the anime, I can't compare, but as it is, I didn't think that the story here was that interesting. I don't feel as bad for not picking this anime up next month despite Kuribayashi and Kajiura's involvement in it's soundtrack.

The book includes an interview with the seiyuu for Mai and producers of the anime.

1. ボーイ　ミーツ　ガールズ (Boy Meets Girls)
2. 大嫌い！！ (I Hate You!)
3. 理屈じゃない！！ (It's Not Logical!!)
4. 長い夜 (Long Night)
5. そばにいてくれ… (Be By Me)
6. 炎の記憶 (Fiery Memories)
7. 生徒会執行部 (Student Councilmen)
8. オリHiME隊 (The Origin HiME)

Title: 愛人 (Ai Ren) Vol. 4
Artist/Author: 田中ユカタ
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 237pp., w/o furigana
Volume: 4/5
Original Serialization: Young Animal Vol 11, '01 - Vol 20, '01
First Printing: 12/24/01
Rating: 2/4

I understand that the theme of this story is life, but the two parallel stories that go still muddle things for me. Ikuru's story with Ai is easy to follow, but the other story with Camaro is utterly confusion. On the bright side, it seems like her story is over so hopefully the last volume will conclude Ikuru's story.

Bonus comes with a glossary of people and places used in the story and the author has a write-up in the back.

27. 密月 (Honeymoon)
28. この世にて (On This Planet)
29. ひとどろしの夢 (Dreams of Murder)
30. 誕生-BIRTH-
31. Stand By Me
32. からだのうた (Song of the Body)
33. この世界とボク ~We love you~ (This World and I)
34. NEW WORLD
35. いきているボク (The Me Who Is Alive)