REVEIW: ‘Toilet-bound Hanako-kun,’ Volume 8

In Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Volume 8, the team is feeling down after returning from the Hell of Mirrors, so they attend a summer festival. The supernatural manga by AidaIro takes place in Kamome Academy, home to superstitious rumors known as The School Mysteries. Nene discovers they are all real when she gets bonded to the seventh mystery, Hanako-san of the Toilet. Together, they try to maintain the balance between the supernatural and the mortal. The manga is published in English by Yen Press, translated by Alethea Nibley and Athena Nibley, and lettered by Nicole Dochych.

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Volume 8 is a lighter respite from the intensity of the previous volume’s confrontation. Kou is feeling very down after Mitsuba didn’t recognize him and was forcibly made into a mystery by Tsukasa. This, on top of learning that Yashiro is fated to die in a year unless he can stop it has him questioning himself more than ever. Yashiro notices and brainstorms a way to make him feel better. Deciding on inviting him to a summer festival, an adorably jealous Hanako intervenes and takes them to a supernatural festival in one of the boundaries.

While it may not be high stakes, the character moments make this volume. It is simply adorable to see Hanako juggle his emotions for Yashiro. He has flirted with her in the past and been flustered, but more and more, he realizes that he has genuine feelings for her.

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Volume 8 doesn’t feel forced with its romance, especially since the main characters are young. It feels very natural; young kids experiencing crushes for the first time. It also doesn’t put Hanako and Kou at odds in a toxic love triangle. They both like Yashiro and are aware of this, but Hanako knows that he is dead and has to maintain distance from the mortal world. Without spoiling anything, there is a lovely moment between Yashiro and Hanako, except he isn’t the Hanako she knows. This Hanako connects with Yashiro in a much different way, and it is moments like these that make the character relationships so great in this series.

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Volume 8 also has a few more side adventures for the back half. One focuses on the antagonistic group and how Mitsuba feels he doesn’t fit in. It is smart for AidaIro to include this because it makes the characters multi-dimensional and intriguing. Additionally, it makes readers question the story’s narrative, are these characters actually the bad guys?

Viewers also get a welcome peek into a more comical side of Kou’s older brother, Student Council President Minamoto. He has been a bit of an enigma as a supporting character, with his motives still unclear. However, the mask of perfection is broken this time, and readers will get to see how he actually is in the field.

Overall, while not as exciting as the previous volume, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Volume 8 is heartwarming and fun. Fans of the series will not be disappointed with the many fun character moments featured throughout. Additionally, a much more vulnerable side of Hanako is shown, which shows the stakes are rising not just on the supernatural front but on the romantic side as well. This is definitely a manga series that everyone should try.

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Volume 8 is available now wherever books are sold.

Olive St. Sauver

Olive is an award-winning playwright with BAs in English and Theatre. At BWT she is a manga and anime critic, with an additional focus on mental health portrayals in media and true crime.