Toradora Vol 9

The day of the school's annual Christmas Eve Party has arrived! Taiga has worked hard to throw a great party for the class--particularly for Ryuuji. In the meantime, Ryuuji has decided to use this occasion to finally confess his feelings to Minori. But when Ryuuji notices that Taiga has left without enjoying the very party she helped plan, love will have to wait!

As their second year of high school draws to a close, Ryuuji wrestles with college plans, money troubles, and his secret discovery of Taiga's feelings for him. Minori and Ami's feud reaches a tipping point, and the return of Taiga's mother threatens everything. Can they all sort out their tangled feelings before it's too late--and will their friendships survive it, if they do?!

BEWARE THE WRATH OF THE PALMTOP TIGER! Takasu Ryuuji has learned the hard way that appearances can be deceiving. Despite his inwardly sweet personality, his unintentionally sharp gaze and aggressive features give him the air of a delinquent thug, putting his chances at making friends, let alone a girlfriend, next to zero. It’s Ryuuji’s first day in junior high school and it seems as if things are looking up. He gets to sit in between his only friend, Yusaku, and, more importantly, the girl he’s secretly crushing on, Minori Kushieda. But just when he thinks the stars are aligned in his favor, he unwittingly crosses the most feared girl in school, Taiga Aisaku, making her onto his arch enemy. To top it off, Taiga has moved in right next door to Ryuuji and happens to be Minori’s best friend! Can this school year possibly get any worse?!

'" Takasu Ryuuji might look like a thug, but he''s actually a nice guy. Making friends when you''ve got an unintentionally scary face is tough–and don''t even get him started on girlfriends. But with his secret crush in his class, the start of his second year of high school is off to a good start…until he crosses paths with Aisaka Taiga. Beautiful, frightening, and not quite five feet tall, the girl known as the palmtop tiger is the one person in school even scarier than Ryuuji himself–and he''s just made the mistake of making her very, very angry. "'

It's swimming season! But Ryuuji's hopes of a relaxing dip are shattered when another spat between Taiga and Ami escalates into a challenge--a no-holds barred swimming contest! The prize? The winner gets to claim Ryuuji for the summer! Ryuuji's none too keen on being spirited away by Ami, but if he wants Taiga to win, he's going to have to teach her to swim from scratch! And what happens if Taiga doesn't even want to win?

DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL The gang is back in school and it’s nearly time for the Culture Festival. Ryuuji and Taiga and the rest of Class 2-C can’t figure out what to do for the event, until a random lottery pick tasks them with presenting... a pro-wrestling performance?! Over on the home front, Taiga’s dad has decided to pop back into her life. The possibility of a divorce with his current wife could mean a reunion with his estranged daughter, but Taiga doesn’t trust the old man. Ryuuji feels conflicted. While he hopes for a happily-ever-after between father and daughter, it could spell the end of his own “domestic bliss” with Taiga.

'" The promised vacation is here: Ryuuji, Taiga, Kitamura, and Minori are going with Ami to her parents'' lavish beachside villa! Ryuuji and Taiga hatch a plan to help Ryuuji get closer to Minori--they''re going to scare the daylights out of her with a series of pranks, so Ryuuji can swoop in to save the day! But the supposedly idyllic trip has a few frights in store that none of them foresaw... "'

Takasu Ryuuji thought that his ill-fated luck had turned around now that he was in Junior High and sitting next to the girl of his dreams, Minori Kushieda. Ryuuji was wrong; for after he unwittingly crossed the most feared and fearsome girl in school, Taiga Aisaku, everything went off the deep end! It’s taken time, but Ryuuji and Taiga have slowly found some common ground and can at least tolerate each other. The problem is everyone in Ryuuji’s class is now convinced that he and Taiga are dating?even Minori! To make matters even more embarassing, Minori has given Ryuuji and Taiga her blessing. How’s Ryuuji ever going to win Minori’s heart now?!