MILK MORINAGA

When it comes to grades, bookish high school student Mariko Kumakura is at the top of her class. Socially, however, she is shy and lonely, typically eating lunch by herself. Enter the charismatic and beautiful Akko Oohashi, whose goal is to befriend Mariko and burst her out of her introverted shell. In the process of transforming Plain Jane Mariko into one of the cutest, most popular girls in school, deep feelings begin to emerge that suggest something deeper than friendship. Will these feelings destroy the budding relationship between Mariko and Akko, or will it turn into something else?

When the cherry blossoms bloom it means the start of another school year―and for the girls at Sakuraki High, it signals the birth of new dreams, fears, and relationships. In “Even If We’re Not Friends,” Nana and Hitomi have been dear friends since childhood, but when Nana gets into the exclusive Sakuraki High while Hitomi doesn’t, their true feelings for each other emerge. In “The Summer Closest to Heaven,” Natsuka is a ghost who resides at the school, still in love with one of the former students who is now the school nurse. In “A Kiss, Love, and a Prince,” Narumi gets her first kiss from Tachiba in the school play, and is shocked at being kissed by a girl. Fourteen stories of blossoming romance between girls are interspersed throughout this heartfelt and adorably illustrated manga collection.

Hana and Hina are two high school girls working at the same character goods shop, but they are completely different from one another. Hana is petite, uncertain and shy, while Hina is tall, confident, and trendy. Yet they share a secret: their school has a strict policy against taking part-time jobs. They also discover that both share an irresistible attraction to things that are cute, be it the uniforms at their all-girls’ school or…each other! Just how long will Hana and Hina be able to keep their afterschool jobs, and their feelings for each other, a secret?

Fujiwara is the school’s most admired student and captain of the volleyball team, but her reputation is at risk when she accidentally breaks the principal’s most prized possession, a priceless vase. Fellow student Miu witnesses the accident, and Fujiwara begs her not to tell. In exchange, she’ll do whatever Miu wants. It turns out that what Miu wants is to date Fujimaru! Although this wasn’t an arrangement that either girl expected, the two soon discover that breaking the vase may have been destiny’s way of bringing them together.

Rena has had a crush on her roommate Yuna since college, but Yuna has never noticed. One night, Yuna brings home a tiny kitten, even though their apartment doesn’t allow pets! Rena decides it would be better to let Yuna find her own place. But when Yuna says she wants to stay with Rena forever, Rena’s feelings are forced to the surface. Can Rena make Yuna understand what being together forever really means?