I know this series is very popular for so many people unfortunately I was just not a huge fan of it.

Following the car accident, Taichi is riddled with guilt, almost to the point where he becomes unpalatable as a character. But the truth is, this is a recreation of trauma for him, and his reaction is perfectly plausible in terms of both that and his age. By saving the kitten he resolved his earlier trauma, but it came at the cost of Toma's shot at Koshien, which stands to derail all of Toma's plans for the future. More than that, it forces Taichi to understand just how important he is for Toma, and given that he's not sure why an awesome guy like that would want to be friends with a loser like him anyway. Even without factoring in the multiple romantic subplots, that's something that he's not quite ready to cope with, and when you factor in the whole Futaba thing, it's amazing that he's functional at all.

Growing up is hard. Few books show that as well as this one.

​Taichi has to deal with the immense guilt from Toma's broken leg. If Taichi hadn't tried to save the kitten from being run over by a car, Toma wouldn't have tried to say Taichi, and he wouldn't have an injury that completely ended his baseball season, just when the team on the cusp of qualifying for the summer tournament. Futaba tries to console Taichi and discovers just how much she cares for him. Taichi and Toma lash out at each other for the injury - Taichi claims responsibility for ruining Toma's dreams, but ultimately, the argument ends with Toma expressing that Taichi's life is more important than his dreams of becoming a professional athlete. Taichi begins to understand some of the feelings Toma has been unable to express before, and he doesn't quite know what to do about it all.

This volume is full of raw emotions and characters wrestling with some really difficult feelings. KAITO beautifully crafts heartfelt moments, one of which is depicted on the cover of this volume. I feel the pain and confusion Taichi is going through as he mourns more than anyone for the loss of Toma's future. It will also be interesting to see in future volumes how Taichi comes to terms with the feelings others have for him that we as readers have known for some time. While the characters definitely struggle with having feelings for someone of the same sex, KAITO's attention and care with his characters gives me hope that this series will be one to normalize those feelings.

This volume's Teen Plus rating is most likely from the inclusion of same-sex crushes that generally elevate books from a regular teen rating.

Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

This review was made possible with a digital reader copy from the publisher through Net Galley.

Taichi's angst is a little overwrought in this volume, but that kinda comes with the territory in manga. Overall, these characters are so endearing and I want the best for all of them, and I'm nervous about how this "love quadrangle" is going to shake out!

Blue Flag Volume 3, is a romance drama manga written and illustrated KAITO and published by VIZ Media. Blue Flag Volume 3 centers on four teenagers caught in an unexpected love quadrangle. With a bit of unrequited love as two classmates, a boy and a girl, begin to fall for each other when each of their best friends has already fallen for them.

In Blue Flag Volume 3, Taichi is left feeling racked with guilt after Toma is seriously injured from diving in front of a car to save him. Taichi doesn’t only feel guilt for just getting his best friend hurt, but for also taking away his last chance at making the summer baseball tournament. Guilty and frustrated with one another, the two best friends clash in an emotional argument. Futaba, worried about both of them, invites Taichi out in an attempt to cheer him up.

This volume hits hard with all of the emotions. KAITO has a great talent for capturing emotion, and this volume shines a light on that skill. They do such a fantastic job of conveying the characters’ emotions through their facial expressions. It’s as if you can feel what they are feeling in those very emotionally raw moments.

I especially liked the facial illustrations during Taichi and Toma’s argument at the hospital. Taichi lashes out and blames himself for Toma’s injury and causing him to miss his last chance to achieve his dream of taking the baseball team to the championship. However, Toma lashes back at him, saying that Taich’s life is the most important thing to him. KAITO does a superb job of showing that each character is feeling their raw emotions from anger and frustration to guilt and fear. As I was reading, it was as if I could feel Taichi and Toma’s emotions too.

This volume just keeps the emotional gut punches coming as it reveals more about Taichi and his self-esteem and resentment issues. Blue Flag Volume 3 shows that during Taichi and Toma’s middle school years, he became more aware of the differences between him and Toma. At the same time, Toma was more athletic, popular, and got along with everyone. It also doesn’t help that the first girl Taichi liked was only friends with him to get closer to Toma.

This moment and realization of the differences between him and Toma lead to Taichi’s self-doubt worsening and forming resentment towards Toma. I liked that this volume shows more of Taichi’s emotions and inner thoughts. As someone afraid of sharing his interests and feelings with others, out of fear that he will be judged unfavorably, he doesn’t open up about his feelings easily. I felt like this volume gave a lot more depth and understanding of Taichi’s character and his struggles.

Additionally, I continue to enjoy this series so much because the characters and their discussions feel authentic. That is thanks to KAITO’s amazing writing skills and creating realistic characters. I love how they make their characters, and their conversations feel real and relatable. For example, in Blue Flag Volume 3 Futaba and Masumi discuss the difference between loving or liking someone. The entire conversation between the two girls just felt like something that actual people would have in real life.

Overall, Blue Flag Volume 3 will hit you in the gut with so many emotions. The mangaka knows how to convey the character’s powerful emotions through storytelling and art. KAITO does a phenomenal job with this volume from the art to the story. This manga continues to be a great series. KAITO knows how to craft and tell a story about romance in a way that feels authentic from beginning to end.

Blue Flag Volume 3 is available from booksellers and online August 18, 2020, visit Viz.com to learn more.

This series is fabulous so far. If you are looking for a coming of age story, with both straight and lgbtq main characters, that are in no way cliched, this could be the series for you.

The emotions are real, relatable, and they tug at your heart strings.