It's getting easier to distinguish the characters, though I'm not sure if that's because I'm getting more used to them or if the art's getting better. And while I didn't like some of the plots quite as much in this volume, I'm still loving the characters.

Second time reading:
Definitely still enjoyable. This time, it wasn't so much that I didn't like the plots, but rather that I just got tired of them. Kagurazaka just got kind of old, and I got tired of all the taunts and jokes about the high jump and everything. Shizuki did spice it up a little, and he's pretty cool. Of course, Umeda is just awesome as usual. ( )

The second volume in the series keeps the pace and tone of the first, and it therefore kept my interest in the story as a whole. In this installment, we have a lot going on: Sano's drunk kiss, Mizuki's brother comes to visit (uh oh!), and the arrival of rival high jumper Kagurazaka who challenges Sano to rejoin the competition. As in the first volume, this series is a nice blend of romance and humor. Some moments are truly squee-worthy - like that drunk kiss which is so unbelievable but completely romantic in a shojo way - but these are balanced nicely by all the silly antics that accompany them. Underneath it all is a story about the development of strong friendships in a school setting. Good development in this volume. ( )