I Cannot Reach You, Vol. 4

“If I never told him, I wonder where these feelings would go. Desires without a place to reach, and words that could not be said... will they vanish someday, as if they never existed?”

This volume blends the coziness and the heartbreak so well, it hurts and heals at the same time. Kakeru and Yamato are trying to figure out how to mend things between them, when there is seemingly nothing wrong to begin with. Both of them have noticed the other one withdrawing lately, and they are both scared to lose their childhood friend. Kakeru is slowly working through his feelings and trying to understand exactly what Yamato means to him, and Yamato is trying (and failing) to keep all his feelings bottled up, so he doesn't destroy their friendship. As a result, they both hold onto the other very strongly, letting actions speak louder than words.

This volume made me so emotional with its simplicity and its coziness! The moments between Kakeru and Yamato are very touching, they speak to loneliness, friendships, and the hardships of growing up. They find themselves in a delicate situation, and they both know that if they misinterpret or make a mistake, they could lose the other forever. The manga has a way or writing out emotions that are so strong, and yet with a simplicity that resonates quite deeply. While the action may move slower in this one than in the first volume, we really get to spend time with each character and get more attached to them, as a result. All in all I highly recommend this series if you like a cozy, almost slice-of-life story and a brilliantly done slow burn.