Hot Gimmick Vol 5

In company-owned rabbit-hutch apartments live tenants who can't afford to live anywhere else, and the apartment complex in which high-school girl Hatsumi Narita lives is ruled over by the rumour mongering, self-righteous Mrs. Tachibana. Get on Tachibana's bad side, and life becomes hell. When Hatsumi has to buy a pregnancy test because her popular sister Akane is late, Mrs. Tachibana's son, Ryoki, who used to bully Hatsumi as a kid, promises not to tell the world about Hatsumi's secret, only if she becomes his slave. Suddenly Azusa, Hatsumi's protector in their youth, reappears to save her again! He's moving back into the neighbourhood! Despite the budding romance between Hatsumi and Azusa, Ryoki has control over her through the secret that could ruin the lives of everyone in Hatsumi's family, and he hasn't forgotten who his slave is! Increasingly attracted to her former "master" Ryoki, our heroine Hatsumi asks him to a movie, but things get complicated (of course), when a jealous Ryoki starts to take umbrage at Hatsumi's relationship with her (adopted?) brother Shinogu, which looks suspiciously "too close for comfort" from what he has seen. Then Shinogu decides to take himself out of the picture by moving out of the house...All this and more in the latest volume of Hot Gimmick, one of the most talked-about new manga titles coming out of Japan!

In company-owned, rabbit-hutch apartments live tenants who can't afford to live anywhere else, and the apartment complex where high-school girl Hatsumi Narita lives is ruled by the evil Mrs. Tachibana. Get on Tachibana's bad side, and life becomes horrendous. Mrs. Tachibana takes special delight in tormenting Hatsumi, particularly with Ryouki, the bully who harassed her when they were kids. Ryouki has special plans for Hatsumi, based on a scandalous secret he discovers about her. But neither he nor Hatsumi knows that another person from her past will be coming soon to help protect her.

I love you like a brother. He loves me like a lover. Shinogu's deepest secret is exposed...the one that will take him out of Hatsumi's life forever. If you think being a teenager is hard, wait until you read Hot Gimmick--these Tokyo boys and girls are really messed up! -- VIZ Media

Coy and self-conscious high school student Karin Karino never paid much attention to boys until she met Kiriya, a popular student from a nearby boys' school. Karin and Kiriya embark on a romantic journey despite Karin's classmate Yuka's best efforts to sabotage their relationship, but Karin soon learns that living happily ever after isn't on the curriculum when she becomes Kiriya's center of attention, as well as embittered Yuka's bull's-eye on her dartboard of hate. When Karin becomes handsome Kiriya's object of affection, she wonders if she can truly deal with the consequences. Upon learning that Kiriya asked Karin to be his girlfriend, Karin's schoolmate Yuka bullies her and pushes her down a stairway to depression. Later, Kiriya asks Karin to go on a trip over their summer vacation, but their plans take one wrong turn after another. Can Kiriya bring Karin happiness? Or does his love just spell trouble?

Imadoki! (Nowadays) follows the trials and tribulations of a budding horticulturist as she makes her way down the winding road to friendship. From Yuu Watase, one of Japan's most beloved shôjo artists, Imadoki! packs comedic charm and heartfelt antics into an adorable bouquet of whimsical fantasy. When Koki's mysterious older brother Yoji shows a blossoming interest in her, Tanpopo finds him hard to resist. In order to give her feelings for Koki a rest, Tanpopo quits the Gardening Committee, and without her the club falls apart. Tanpopo has her hands full when her friends start aggressively recruiting her to rejoin the committee and Koki expresses his true feelings for her. As usual, it is up to Tanpopo to make sure everything comes up roses!

All-out warfare between their families has Hatsumi and Ryoki wondering about their future, forcing Hatsumi to choose between Ryoki and her brother.

Neighbors in Love! In company-owned rabbit-hutch apartments live tenants who can't afford to live anywhere else, and the apartment complex in which high-school girl Hatsumi Narita lives is ruled over by the rumor mongering, self-righteous Mrs. Tachibana. Get on Tachibana's bad side, and life becomes hell. When Hatsumi has to buy a pregnancy test because her popular sister Akane is late, Mrs. Tachibana's son, Ryoki, who used to bully Hatsumi as a kid, promises not to tell the world about Hatsumi's secret only if she becomes his slave. Suddenly Azusa, Hatsumi's protector in their youth, reappears to save her again! He's moving back into the neighborhood! Despite the budding romance between Hatsumi and Azusa, Ryoki has control over her through the secret that could ruin the lives of everyone in Hatsumi's family, and he hasn't forgotten who his slave is! Our heroine Hatsumi is on Cloud 9 when male model and childhood buddy Azusa asks her to be his girlfriend! But all is not as well as it seems: Hatsumi still has to get out from under the creepy clutches of her "master" Ryoki, who insists on continuing to blackmail her. And on the night of her first date with Azusa, her dad intervenes and grounds her! But that may not be the worst of it for poor Hatsumi, 'cause something's brewing with Azusa, and her knight in shining armor may not be what he seems...All this in drama-packed second volume of Hot Gimmick, one of the most talked-about new manga titles coming out of Japan!