Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love 9 by Ayuko Hatta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
There's a rather large time skip here where we go from studying for college entrance exams as third years in high school to passing those exams and then suddenly what their life looks like sometime further in the future. It's unclear if they're still in school at this point or not, but Yagyu and Satomi are living together at the very least and it sounds like Miria and Noda may be moving in together after Miria landing a new job. It doesn't sound like they're married at this point, though they very well could be as they definitely act like a more established long term couple, just as they are considering they've been dating for several years at this point. For their anniversary, Yagyu takes them back to the same theme park where they celebrated that first Christmas, much to Miria's joy it seems. They have both been talking long term and wanting to stay together, so it appears they got their wish.
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Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love 8 by Ayuko Hatta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A lot of this volume focuses on Miria and Noda and how they learn to communicate and begin to interact together on their dates. While they have their cute moments, they're a lot more confrontational than Yagyu and Satomi. This leads to problems when Yagyu helps an underclassman and Satomi gets jealous, bringing things to a head where they feel where one isn't being honest or holding out on the other and their communication is lacking. Even though the originally both apologize, their feelings are still troubled under everything leading to feeling like there's a wall between the two of them until their friends tell them to air everything out. Things get resolved pretty quickly once they both want to talk things out and really try to fix them instead of just apologize and sweep it under the rug.
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Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love 7 by Ayuko Hatta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Noda actually gets jealous which leads to Miria giving him her first kiss (though it looks to be on the cheek) and promptly avoiding him out of sheer embarrassment. Noda isn't letting her ignore him though and even enlists the help her cousin (their temporary student teacher) to literally lock them into a storage room together so they can finally talk. They're still not on the same page it seems though, as Miria makes a lot of assumptions about what dating should be like and takes a bit to actually start talking to Noda. More like yelling at him sometimes, but he's somehow good at taking that in stride or firing right back if he wants to. For now, she seems convinced that since he invited her over when her family is out, he must have ulterior motives with their relationship.
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Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love 6 by Ayuko Hatta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Yagyu ends up staying overnight with Satomi's family after a storm rolls in, though fortunately he seems to be winning them all over. Even Satomi's brother who previously seemed terrified of him now seems convinced their best friends. Meanwhile, Miria continues to struggle with sharing her feelings. Noda doesn't seem to be as oblivious as he acts, thought it takes Miria losing her temper in a cat fight with Noda's ex before either of them really speak up about it at all. Miria really is rather contrary about the whole thing despite her desire to be with Noda at the end of it all. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to deter Noda, who follows up with from the fireworks show to the summer music festival. Turns out he does already like Miria, though she seems convinced it's not in the same or right way somehow.
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Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love 5 by Ayuko Hatta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Mizusawa (Satomi) and Yagyu are in the same class together for the new year, though Nimo is in a different class. A new friend, Miria, is in class as well, who seems to have all the boys swooning over her. This could be a concern when she seems to get extra friendly with Yagyu. Luckily, it's just a misunderstanding and she's actually trying to get close to his best friend Noda. With that fear off her chest, Miria and Satomi quickly become good friends and Satomi promises to help her. The girls end up in cheer squad as the "easy" option given their lack of athletic abilities when sports day comes around, though Satomi gains some unexpected help from Tatsukawa on the dance moves. The boys do well overall even though Noda doesn't seem to be much help at least in the log toppling. He's surprising fast in the relay though, surprising pretty much everyone except for Yagyu. Satomi manages to sneak a special surprise in on their first anniversary, leading to Yagyu showing up at her house rather unexpectedly. Sometimes he really is very sweet. Doubt he was expecting to meet his girlfriend's mom when biked over like a mad man, but she seems to have her sights on him now.
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Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love 4 by Ayuko Hatta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Mizusawa gets to see Yagyu at his own job for a change, though Tatsukawa and her cafe manager show up in the middle of the excursion. After an arm wrestling contest, the two turn to making Christmas plans, including going to a theme park even if their friends taunt them a bit about it being likely to kill their relationship. It seems they have some of the same ideas though as they both chose couple gifts that pair them together. Mizusawa proves she's still a bit on the side of innocence though when they go to the hotel together. Fortunately, Yagyu actually understands that and seems to prefer them taking things slow to enjoy growing together in their relationship. He's at least getting pretty good at reading Mizusawa if nothing else, which may be what saves his valentines cake when Nimo unintentionally squashes her hopes of him liking the valentines cake she had designed.
Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love 3 by Ayuko Hatta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Mizusawa ends up on the planning committee for the school festival which throws a bit of a wrench into some of their dating plans. As always, Yagyu accepts these challenges and changes with a calmness that would be surreal in some teenagers. Given the little time they'll have together during the event, he even goes out of his way to give Mizusawa her own sneak peak at his costume and the services they'll be offering as butlers for the event after she expresses an interest in it, though she gets a few perks as his girlfriend that the customers won't be receiving. As a result of working on the committee, Mizusawa also gets to know Tatsukawa a bit, who seems to be rather similar to Yagyu, perhaps just a bit more open and not as frightening at first sight. This seems to be further reinforced when they end up working together at a cafe after school, though Tatsukawa doesn't seem to be intentionally making any move to break up Mizusawa and Yagyu. Rather, he was fully supportive of them winning the couples challenge during the school festival and asks after them once in awhile. It's a bit hard to tell if he has his own interest in Mizusawa or perhaps sees her as something like a little sister with his kindness and fondness. Yagyu doesn't like it at first either, but he seems to at least be holding any thoughts or opinions to himself while they're working together.
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Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love 2 by Ayuko Hatta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Yagyu remains a gentleman even when Mizusawa stays over at his house. Unfortunately, the next day doesn't go as planned when his sister shows up unexpectedly and seems rather fixated on having all of her brother's attention on her. Unfortunately for her though, Mizusawa doesn't see any of her tricks as bullying. If anything, the only thing that seems to put her off is the actual language used and how clingy she gets. Even revealing "Yagyu's secret" doesn't get her any real reward. If anything, it just helps their relationship as Mizusawa is completely understanding and okay with Yagyu's fear and reasons for his reaction, rather just being glad that she is trusted to know (though his sister kind of forced it). Hopefully she won't be a challenge in the future as well.
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Ima Koi: Now I'm in Love 1 by Ayuko Hatta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Yagyu seems to be a bit of a gentle giant, though his height and general aloof persona seem to make him intimidating. After saving Mizusawa on the train during the morning commute to school, and then giving her his umbrella for 2 girls to use who had forgotten them rather than letting her give up her own as she had been about to do, it seems he's one who genuinely cares for those around him even if he comes off as intimidating. With that sort of personality, Mizusawa falls hard and fast and isn't willing to just let them part as strangers. Despite his insistence that he doesn't need any thanks, her persistence pays off even if there's some confusion getting on the same page initially given Yagyu doesn't like her in the same way, but seems willing to give a relationship together a chance. He seems to ace everything though, especially once he learns it's Mizusawa's birthday, with the best cherry on top - confessing his own feelings. That's probably about the best gift he could have given her, even if he did spoil her the rest of the day too.
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