Days of Love at Seagull Villa Vol. 3

Mayumi is happy at the villa, building a good life for herself, until her former toxic friend Touko surprisingly shows up on her doorstep. Touko gaslights Mayumi like she did when they were younger, and tries to drive a wedge between her and Rin, right as Mayumi understands and is ready to confess her feelings for Rin! Can Mayumi stand up against the manipulative Touko to have a happily ever after with Rin? While Touko was not a very likable character, she was a necessary evil for the final bit of growth Mayumi needed to be free of her worries and take control of her life. There was a lot of character development for most of the characters, Mayumi and the two middle school girls in Mayumi's class in particular. While Rin got pushed a bit to the side, she did come to a few realizations that she needed, so she wasn't completely left out. The two middle schoolers, Saitou and Sakura, liked each other, and while their character development was done very well, the fact that they were half-sisters give me a bit of cringe. I wish their (familial) relationship and storyline could have been portrayed in a different way to where they weren't related, but it was still enjoyable to read about the girls stories and their life. The first volume made me realize what a comfort read could make a person feel, like you were wrapped in a blanket with your favorite plushie and a cup of hot cocoa in your hand. I really wanted to find that experience in the next two volumes, and while it was present here and there, by the end of the third volume, I felt that same feeling. Even with the cringe and the gaslighting, the time skip at the end really brought you to a place of happiness. I am highly anticipating the author's, Naoko Kodama, next series. If you love romance that is light and fluffy with a few dark twists, please pick up Days of Love at Seagull Villa, you won't be disappointed.