There was an eight month gap between volumes two and three of My Boy, and it sure felt like it. So I can only imagine that the two years that Satoko and Mashuu have been separated was even harder than me waiting for this series to go on a faster release schedule.
But thanks to an epic coincidence, Mashuu runs into Satoko while on his school field trip. For these two though, it’s a reunion that neither one knows how to handle. As they struggle between doing what is “right” and what they really want, people close to them observe them carefully.
That’s the whole volume.
Seriously, that’s it.
But despite the simple summary, Takano crafts a story where acquiring a LINE ID is an emotionally moving development and just standing in front of a vending machine is enough to shake characters’ souls.
The biggest change for this volume is that we start to follow Mashuu’s point of view. We’ve checked in with his classmate Ogata before (and do so again), but it’s his turn. Unsurprisingly, his thoughts tend to center around Satoko — wanting to speak to her, worried that she’s rejecting him, trying to think of what to say. There are a lot of parallels between their lives, including an encounter at a park with a young child that leads to getting a sushi phone strap. It ends up spurring Mashuu into action, and I’d be shocked if he can actually make his bold statement come true. Or at least come true without causing an even bigger fuss (read: scandal). But we do see how his life has improved after Satoko left.
Speaking of scandals, Satoko’s ex-boyfriend and sort-of ex don’t make appearances here. So outside of a passive-aggressive comment from her mother, Satoko’s unfulfilled life takes a backseat to Mashuu’s desires. She’s also a little harder to understand in this volume because less of the manga is from her perspective, but she’s obviously conflicted.
So the story is moving pretty slowly. Satoko and Mashuu obviously have a short chat when they meet, but even their texting and phone conversations are limited. At least the pace gives readers more time to appreciate Takano’s art. There are almost too many to name: the subtle expressions that Ogata and Satoko’s sister notice on the two leads, Ogata praying for the radio host to read her letter, not to mention Mashuu in front of the vending machine. I love the way Takano plays with light and shadows — both the brightness or darkness of the scenery and the mood of the characters. The dark of the night is suddenly replaced by brightness when Satoko offers her scarf to Mashiro. It’s just beautiful.
That being said, how essential My Boy volume 4 will be to your collection will depend on how much emphasis you place on the art. With Satoko and Mashuu trying to take the mature route and repress their feelings, the few story developments means there’s plenty of room for stunning visuals.