Gacha Gacha

(Volume 5)
by
Hiroyuki Tamakoshi

Del Rey, August 2006, 202 pp.
ISBN: 0-345-49232-3

Genre: Comics
Subgenre: Manga
Reviewed: 6/12/2007

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Manga Page

Synopsis

Kurara turns into Ayame, one of the the "Original 4" from the virtual world of Gesalt Psychological Chance Generation. She is in love with Kouhei and tries to make him take a pill that will make him fall in love with the first person he sees . . . namely, her. Then Kurara turns into Kiroko and makes him a bento for lunch. When Kurara returns, she also tries to make Kouhei a bento and she puts a heart in it, but he doesn't see the heart as it gets stuck in the lid.

Later, Kouhei, who has vowed to protect Kurara, is forced by Kiroko to go out on a date with her, and she kisses Kouhei. When Kurara returns, Kouhei cannot stand it anymore and tells Kurara that he loves her, except she has turned back into Kiroko. Since Kurara remembers everything that happens to her when another personality takes over, she realizes that she must tell Kouhei how she feels, and finally confesses her love for him.

Finally, these two have said what they have wanted to say for so long. But when Code 01, the fourth member of the "Original 4" takes over, Kouhei fears that Kurara will never make it back. Only be returning to virtual world of Gesalt Psychological Chance Generation can he hope to save the girl he loves. But at what peril?

Gacha Gacha: Volume 5 is a manga book written and drawn by Hiroyuri Tamakoshi. This collection of nine capsules of this story was Translated and Adapted by David Ury and Lettered by Patrice Sheridan. This book contains the following capsules (chapters):

Capsule 33 - Kunoichi's Party

Capsule 34 - Declaration of War

Capsule 35 - The Battle of Asakusa

Capsule 36 - The Battle of Akihabara

Capsule 37 - Message From a Drunk

Capsule 38 - After School Lovers

Capsule 39 - The Misunderstanding

Capsule 40 - Negotiation Time

Capsule 41 - Once Again!...

There are also some sections in the book for: A) A Note From the Author, B) Honorifics Explained, C) Illustration Corner, D) About the Creator, E) Translation Notes, and G) Preview of Gacha Gacha - The Next Revolution: Vol. 1. The book reads from right to left and back to front, just like a book from Japan. This manga book is intended for readers ages 16 and up.

Review

Gacha Gacha: Volume 5 is the final book in the first storyline of this series. It finally wraps up all of the issues that Kurara has been having with all of the personalities that were downloaded into her in the virtual world of Gesalt Psychological Chance Generation in the first book. And, surprise, there are even more characters that we hadn't seen in previous capsules. And, of course, there is finally the resolution of the problem of not declaring his love for his love for Kurara, even though he has desperately wanted to. And just when you think it is going to end on a happy note . . . BAM! Gacha Gacha: Volume 5 has a surprise ending that you just don't see coming.

The artwork is on par with all of the previous books and the storyline is fun and full of tension.

Overall, this book is a great ending to a fun series and a promising beginning to a new storyline. As a series, I quite enjoyed the entire thing and look forward to reading more about the adventures of Kurara and Kouhei in Gacha Gacha - The Next Revolution: Vol. 1.

I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.