After the events of the previous volume, Nene is on a mission to cheer Kou up! Now that her attention is directed towards him, Hanako is feeling a bit jealous. Will the three be able to get back to their usual energetic selves?
You can check out a sample of this series for yourself below!
Author
Genre & Tropes
Info about this series (hiatus)
This series is on hiatus in Japanese at 25 volumes. There are currently 23 volumes publised in English.
My thoughts on this volume (Slight Spoilers!)
I really enjoyed the Kou/Nene/Hanako relationships in this volume! We see Kou, clearly depressed about the events of the previous volume but trying to hide it from his friends. We see Nene, naturally sensing that Kou is depressed about what just happened, brainstorming different ways she could cheer him up. We then see Hanako, not really showing any empathy for Kou, subtly jealous about Nene devoting all her attention to Kou.
All of these big feelings lead to the three of them going to an ayakashi Tanabata festival with the fox mystery! I love the chapters that devote a lot of time to relationship and character development, so I got my fill here. Watching Nene discover her mermaid scales are akin to gold in the ayakashi universe was very entertaining!
Of course not everything can always go smoothly in a volume of Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun, so I never let myself get all that comfortable while reading these more laid-back chapters. The “trouble” that came in this volume wasn’t all that distressing, but I would be lying if I said the ending of the festival arc didn’t make me want to cry. Did the wish actually come true? Was it all a self-fulfilling prophecy!?
Nevertheless everything ended smoothly, and we were then surprised with a ~Mokke of the Dead~ chapter, clearly inspired by Night of the Living Dead. I love when authors pay homage to famous stories like this!
In Mokke of the Dead, we see a Mokke disease outbreak among the student body—even affecting Hanako! All those affected by the virus become overtaken by a strong desire to eat candy, and loose all rational. Honestly, it was ridiculous, but it was just what I needed after the sad ending of the previous chapter. We watch Nene and Kou work together to solve the mystery, and the ever-handsome Minamoto gets his fair time on the page.
Minamoto is my favourite minor character, so I always enjoy it when he makes an appearance. He’s just so mysterious, you can never tell when he’s going to make an appearance!
To end the volume, we get a peak at how Mitsuba is fairing in his new situation…and honestly I think he’s going to be alright. I wonder if he will end up being a bridge that will allow the two groups to one day get along..? That is, if the murderous Tsukasa can calm down a bit first.
My favourite parts of this volume (Spoilers!)
🖤 Hanako kindly playing with Nene’s hair in clas…to only then tie it up like a Christmas tree. It’s like he can’t let himself just be kind to her! How middle school-aged boy of him.
🖤 The Mokke delivery system pelting the gifts Nene sent to Kou into his face. The Mokke can do no wrong in my eyes.
🖤 Kou and Yako still clearly getting along! It felt like a little callback to the previous volume. While they aren’t all buddy-buddy, you can sense a friendly atmosphere between them now.
🖤 Nene giving all her fortunes to baby Hanako! She just wanted to save him from his fate…but then…
🖤 Kou jumping out of the closet and pelting the mystery on the other side of the door in the face to protect Nene…only to later realize it was just Akane. Much to Minamoto’s (and my) entertainment.
🖤 Literally everyone in the school running to confess their love for Minamoto when the “Minamoto is taking applications for a lover” rumour was spread.
Maddies Manga 
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