Ai Yori Aoshi, Volume 12

The romance between Aoi and Kaoru takes a backseat to the comedy in this twelfth volume of Ai Yori Aoshi. Really, the main focus of this volume is Chika and her two pals and classmates, Natsuki and Chizuru. They're all in the swim club at school and have certain goals they have to meet for the year. Chizuru, especially is having a hard time....probably because she doesn't even know how to swim!! Chika and Natsuki promise her that they'll help her get to the goal of swimming 25 meters before the year is out. The three girls have also at first gladly, but later, sadly, accepted the help of "expert" swimming instructor when she's not drunk Tina Foster! She's actually a pretty good instructor when she's not busy fondling or trying to drown the girls in her training! Meanwhile, Aoi begins to question if she is meeting all of Kaoru's needs even as her mom comes a-calling to ask about his suitability for her beloved daughter. Sometimes the fan service and eroticism of this series tends to overshadow the love story. This volume falls victim to that tendency. But I have to say, if I'm going to read harem comedy, I'd rather read Aoshi than anything else, because I like the characters, and it keeps the body count to a minimum. And let's not forget the comedy. This manga is just flat-out funny. Even though there are lots of sexually suggestive panels, you never get a sense of smut. You get the sense that are simply good natured teasing, but in the end cannot penetrate the love that already exists between Aoi and Kaoru.