When shojo picks up, it picks up, and that’s exactly what Mint Chocolate Volume 3 solidifies for the series. At the end of Volume 2, Nanami and Kyouhei had fully embraced their confessions for each other. Now in this volume, they have to deal with the larger issue: they’re technically siblings (don’t worry, step-sibling). Living under the same roof proves challenging as miscommunications, assumptions, and the fear of being found out compound on each other.
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Mint Chocolate Volume 3 is created, written, and illustrated by mangaka Mami Orikasa. The volume is published and localized in English by Yen Press, is translated by Amber Tamosaitis, and is lettered by Barri Shrager. Picking up after the confession, pushed against a wall and almost kiss, this volume revolves around the fallout form the Christmas confession and the weird space between the two. While it’s clear that both characters like each other as definitely more than siblings, it’s not clear where they stand. Sure, Kyouhei admitted to liking Nanami but he’s also acting like nothing happened at all and is back to his usual self. But while the couple tries to iron out what they really mean to each other, rumors start spreading about their new sibling status and makes everything all the more complicated.
Up until Mint Chocolate Volume 3, Kyouhei and Nanami have been trying to control themselves, focusing on keeping their parents in the dark. When they kiss and it’s clear that dating is in their future – if not now – it becomes more important to hide their relationship. While there have been small moments that allow Nanami to voice her fear of school finding out, this volume showcases the rumors and the repercussions that come with them. This offers up the right amount of tension to the story as Nanami and Kyouhei finally get over their romantic silence and give into each other.
Moving away from miscommunication, Nanami and Kyouhei’s relationship begins to focus on real world circumstances and how people view them. Ultimately, this helps move the story from one area to another and allows the two to grow in the story. For her part, Nanami is every part the shoujo heroine that we know and love while Kyouhei the stubborn tsundere. This makes the importance of side-characters all the more important as they navigate what it means to have their step-sibling relationship outed at school.
Overall, Mint Chocolate Volume 3 is a set-up volume. Yes, it pays off by showing Nanami and Kyouhei come closer together and air their communication issues. That said, it focuses on foreshadowing whats to t come in the series, which is inevitably having the school find out about their relationship. Thankfully, for two romance leads, Kyouhei and Nanami are fairly communicative now and honestly that helps me keep excited for the next step in the series and believe that the character can phase it together.
Mint Chocolate Volume 3 is available now wherever books are sold both digitally and as physical copies.
Mint Chocolate Volume 3
TL;DR
Overall, Mint Chocolate Volume 3 is a set-up volume. Yes, it pays off by showing Nanami and Kyouhei come closer together and air their communication issues. That said, it focuses on foreshadowing whats to t come in the series, which is inevitably having the school find out about their relationship. Thankfully, for two romance leads, Kyouhei and Nanami are fairly communicative now and honestly that helps me keep excited for the next step in the series and believe that the character can phase it together.
