Blue Period Volume 4, by Tsubasa Yamaguchi, as generally expected was excellent. With greater focus on Yatora, we see as the first exam for Tokyo University of the Arts looms in sight. This volume for the first half focuses on how the examinees at the art prep school deal with the stress of the exam while putting in the last stretch of effort to get ready and the last half shows the first exam. This volume also attaches more focus on Maki Kuwana, an attendee at the same prep school as Yatora who has always been performing well, as she begins to stress over the exam and comparisons between her and her sister.

The art this volume was good as ever, although I did find that it featured less of the artworks that the previous volumes had. The ones that were shown however were used well. I found the piece that Yatora does for the first exam to be very interesting.

The story was very good this volume. I enjoyed seeing Yatora overcome his last set of issues before the exam and being able to enjoy making art. This volume showed Maki’s struggle with trying to live up to her family, as they are all graduates of TUA, specifically her sister. I found that this was interesting, and I’m interested in seeing how she develops after the exams. The general focus on how the examinees dealt with stress was relatable as I also had to deal with similar at the end of high school. I think that most people would relate to this as well.

The section dealing with the exam itself was very good. Yamaguchi was able to convey the anticipation, the stress very well. I found that Yatora gathering inspiration from his mirror breaking to be a moment of levity and progressed the story nicely. I liked that it tied in with Yatora overcoming a shortcoming about his adaptability, and it being a boon in the exam.

I was expecting more focus on Ryuji this volume but that was not so. I do think it was interesting to see him walk out the exam. I’m very hopeful that the author would be able to show a fitting conclusion to his story arc despite how drip fed it is. I’m unsure how long we would have to wait for it, however.

This volume was very good. The character development here was very well done, and despite the non-inclusion of Ryuji in a significant way I still wait with bated breath to see some catharsis to his plotline.

I’d rate this volume a 4.8/5

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