Citrus (Volume 5) - Sister vs. Sister!

The new school year promises to be interesting, especially as Harumi’s older sister is back and is prepared to stir things up thanks to the new girl with dyed blonde hair. Can Mei continue to protect Yuzu?

Citrus (Volume 5) – Sister vs. Sister!

What happened?

As the school year comes to a close, Mei reminds Yuzu that next year they will be upperclassmen and that she should set an example for the new students. Maybe it’s time to change her hair back to its natural colour. Of course, Yuzu wasn’t keen on the idea. Then, when they got to school Harumi told Yuzu the same thing, but her reason was that her older sister, the former student council president was planning on coming back at the start of the new school year to instil a little discipline in the school.

Yuzu also learnt that there was a student in the middle school that looked up to her. Maybe, she needed to do something or others could get in trouble. When Yuzu came home from school, she found Mei and her mother sitting at the dinner table. Her mother had been drinking and let slip that Yuzu’s father had blond hair, although she didn’t know what caused Yuzu to dye her hair! Mei realised though and told Yuzu that she liked her hair that way, which took a lot of pressure off Yuzu.

At the start of the new school year, Yuzu showed up at school in a black wig. Harumi was relieved. But then, Nene, Yuzu’s number one fan arrived at school with blonde hair on her first day. Unfortunately, that was the day that Mitsuko, Harumi’s older sister decided to show up. She told Nene to leave the school of cut off her hair, offering her a pair of scissors. Yuzu rushed to her defence, pulling off her wig as she stood up to Mitsuko.

Shocked at Yuzu’s upfront approach, Mitsuko decided that there should be an election for student council president and Yuzu would run against Mei. If Yuzu won, she could decide what to do about her hair. Of course, the implication was that she and Nene would be expelled if she lost. Yuzu had no idea how she would be Mei or if she even wanted to. However, she gave a speech and in it, she revealed her character and how she wanted her friends (Harumi) to be able to be the person she wants to be and not hide anymore. Mitsuko was surprisingly pleased as she had been determined to free Harumi.

What did you think?

So, that was a crazily convoluted way for Mitsuko to look out for her little sister, but it was nicely done. I think it would be hard for anyone to not take something from Yuzu’s speech. She stood up for herself and Nene while reminding Harumi that she should be free. She should be the person she wants to be and not hide her true self away.

I liked the way Nene spoke of Yuzu too and I think Mei understood it completely. Both seem to have developed a newfound respect for one another and that is strengthening their relationship. They seem more at ease with one another, to the point that Mei hitting Yuzu on the bum with an umbrella and sending her flying into the garbage wasn’t a point of conflict.

So, Mei won the election and then changed the dress code to allow Yuzu to continue to be a normal high school girl. It was the first time Mei changed a rule because she wanted to and it no doubt felt good because she realised soon after that they should probably kiss to celebrate, but not before she placed her grandfather’s picture on the desk, averting his gaze. It was a really good volume, probably my favourite so far because of Yuzu’s conviction. It’s going to be interesting to see how this impacts the rest of the school.