I can not reach You’ve been following the day-to-day confused and misapprehensions that arise when two boys, most friends since childhood, realize something has changed between them yet they don’t know what to do with their feelings. At the end of volume 4, Yamato hugged Kakeru and said that I’ll work so much harder so you will like me back. Since the next chapter is not unnecessary, it’s not unreasonable to think about what it means to say about the next chapter, but instead, the spotlight goes on Yamatos younger sister. The siblings are very close. It’s obvious that this is because of their own being in a single parent, while their working mother always cares for them. That’s interesting to see some events from Mikotos perspective. Even though the chapter revolves around the hair accessory that Yamato brought back for her from Kyoto, we observe her with her peers and as a cheerful boy in her class who without doubt shares their feelings, but does not have even know how to express her opinions, we also realize that Hosoda is very a madly shy child. But despite our experience with Yamato and Kakeru on the school trip, Hosoda likes to get the most out of our lives. However, is it a positive development or should alarm bells come out?

Christmas is just approaching and the Yamato and Kakerus class is planning a Christmas party. The unsubtle implication is that anybody who doesn’t attend should be going on romantic date thus it’s only those who don’t have significant other who’ll be going along. Even though Kakeru doesn’t say that he’s not going, I am expecting a mistake of thinking that Yamato thinks that he’s not going. But even though this misunderstanding was clear and the people agreed to go to the cinema on The Day, Kakeru is so agitated about the prospect of going on a date with Yamato that he is in a dark slumber after night with unforeseen consequences.

One of the favorites of romance-y manga is nitalia that of childhood friends who go from being friends to lovers. Sometimes it happens after a long time, sometimes these stories portray the relationship changing while the two are still in school together, as does I Cannot Reach You. But what kind of future is that kind of relationship built on one of these two versus each other as a more committed relationship or a more confident one of his own feelings? Seeing through the first five volumes, a picture shows the long connection slowly disintegrating because the two friends don’t share the same goals anymore. Since Yamato is growing, the two’s highest (and possibly the most emotionally mature) can decide what he wants commitment from Kakeru, but Kakeru whose self-confidence and capacity to commit to a romantic relationship is limited, runs away, disappears whenever Yamato moves. The flashback chapter No 27: The Day It Started takes us back to the school time when Yamato became the silent loner, often picked on by other boys for being gloomy and Kakeru was the handsome, outgoing, sportsy little kid who stood up for him. And now they’re older, Yamato is the tall, good-looking prince, and Kakeru is constantly comparing himself to his much more glamorous friend and finding himself wanting. There is a very real possibility this friendship won’t survive, let alone transform into the deepest relationship Yamato so eagerly hopes for.

Five volumes in the volume 6 have started and readers who followed these two will ask, as I’ve been, whether this relationship will ever be successful. The minutiae of Kakerus self-doubts and sleepless nights have been sympathetically retold but when he starts another of his self-deprecating excuses to Yamato There are no single things you could find attractive! you really want to shake him. The poor boy is self-conscious about his height (or lack thereof) and how ordinary he looks when they go to town and Yamato draws a jumble of admiring gazes, because he is tall, looks like an idol etc.

I think that despite its impressive manner of portraying the character, it makes this a very interesting read, sometimes via humorous chibis, sometimes by capturing those heart-breaking, embarrassing moments that any youngster who has suffered from their first crush will recognize. That seems to be true. And Mikas accomplished graphic style is suited to portraying the characters; I’ve mentioned previously that some of Kakerus extreme reaction shots (and they are extreme!) capture his inner emotions wonderfully. We may laugh at him, but we feel for him at the same time. (Being the situation in the relationship is different, there are parallels here to My Love Mix-Up (VIZ Media) by Aruko, story by Wataru Hinekura).

Yen Press bring us Volume 5 in another attractive volume with the cover art of Mikas, and four colour pages in front, featuring an eight-page spread of Yen, Yamato’s younger sister. The translation, which is very understandable by Jan Mitsuko Cash, and that lettering by Alexis Eckerman, also conveys Kakerus a really good way to communicate a bad inner brain-detailed emotion. Many extras come down to a page of helpful translation notes and the mangakas Afterword, as well as a few more amusing bonus shorts, like If Yamato was Cheerful and Kakeru was Not. And, later, a page on the third Drama CD released as soon as Japan’s volume 5.

I am still teen-rated (13 years old). I cannot reach You so that bothered and passionately view the pitfalls of crushing your best friend, but didn’t get into the hardswitch of what you had once in a while of the same sex as you.