Pastel 2

The art work is really well done, as far as scenery goes. Over all it is very sexually charged so take caution of the age rating. It is an enjoyable read.

A Japanese romance comic just wouldn't be any good with just one beautiful girl. There must always be...the rival. And that is just what you get in this next volume of "Pastel." Mugi's childhood friend Manami makes the scene, and she is all grown up. The best friend of Mugi's former girlfriend Hinako, she has been biding her time and nurturing her secret crush on Mugi until she was certain Mugi and Hinako were actually finished. Making a sudden reappearance in Mugi's life, she declares her intentions to Yu, who is none to pleased. Mugi's heart is still firmly with Yu, but Minami makes for some stiff competition and she is none too shy about using her advantages. Author Kobayashi makes full use of the rivalry to show off his girls to their best advantage. A trip to a local pool and and evening at a festival puts both Yu and Minami in bikinis and kimonos, as well as Mugi's perpetual habit of stumbling in on them while they are taking showers. "Pastel" continues to be a simple, sweet boy's romance comic with loads of fanservice and great looking girls. Kobayashi has a way with drawing eyes and underwear, and the innocent nature of the characters keeps it all from getting too sleazy. Not an incredibly gripping story, but enough to keep me coming back for the next volume.