Title: Mieruko-chan Vol. 3
Author: Tomoki Izumi
Publisher: Yen Press
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 160
Genre: Sci-Fi, Supernatural, Horror
Publication Date: June 29, 2021
The Story
The third volume of Mieruko-chan centers around a strange correlation between Hana and their new teacher Zen. Each and every day, Hana gets hungrier and hungrier. At first, no one seems to notice what’s going on as it just seems like Hana being herself; however, it wasn’t until Yuria blurting out something about her life aura that triggered something in Miko’s mind. She noticed that she fell suddenly ill from severe hunger when Zen was standing next to her.
In addition, there was another monster telling Miko not to look at Zen. After doing a bit of investigating, Miko decides to follow Zen home one day where he sees him, supposedly, attacking a cat in an alley. Miko saves the cat and runs but is about to get hit by a car. Zen saves her but ends up getting injured in the process.
At the hospital, we learn about Zen’s past as well as what he plans to do from there. The volume ends with Zen finding the actual person that has been going around and injuring cats. He then announces to a woman who brought him food every now and then that he intends to move out; however, her response to that as she walks away leads us to believe that there was something more going on!
The Characters
Despite Hana taking up a good amount of the volume, the biggest focus was on Zen and his childhood. He had a very daunting mother. So much so that she scolded him for missing 2 points on a test. She also wasn’t aware that he was going to a friend’s birthday party and guilt-tripped him into canceling.
One could say she was strict but she didn’t really come off like that. Apparently, Zen’s father ditched them and it emotionally killed his mother to the point where she became a control freak over Zen so that he couldn’t leave her, too. Zen became lonely and even took in a stray cat in secret; however, his mother found out about it and “exterminated” the cat as punishment for hiding things from her again.
Since then, Zen was using his friend Satoru, who was a vet, to take in stray cats, fix them up, and find them good homes. Despite his good deeds, Zen is no saint. He doesn’t like talking to anyone, can’t bother to remember people’s names… especially those of his students, and doesn’t generally like people. He was a bit of an oddball character but in a series where two girls can see dead monsters and another with a bottomless pit of a stomach, he kind of fits right in!
Final Thoughts
It seems as if things are becoming a little more episodic with this volume which is fine. There is still the overarching story of Miko seeing these monsters. You can tell that she’s still wrestling with whether or not to acknowledge their presence or not. The series is slowly leaning in that direction but I think there has to be some sort of major revelation in order for that to happen first.
Yuria just seems like a side character that doesn’t really serve any point in the story outside of being there when needed. I hope that changes because the comedy that she brings to the table is already becoming repetitive and annoying. I suspect her ability to see life auras will be a key trait of hers that will help Miko in the long run but… couldn’t they have just given Miko that ability and spared us an extra character? The fact that she exists only means that something is in store for her… hopefully.
Also, those guardian spirits showed up again and now, Miko is out of saves from them. Their role, outside of showing up and guarding Miko, still remains a mystery so I wonder what will come of them in future volumes? Maybe they are the actual key to Miko acknowledging the spirits’ presence? Maybe she gets the power to slay them from the guardian spirits? Who knows?
Yuria complaints aside, this was another highly interesting volume! This series is beginning to take shape and it’s getting better and better each and every time! Can’t wait to check out Vol. 4!
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This item was provided for review by Yen Press
