Seki continues to goof off, and Yokoi continues to watch in fascination and occasionally try to thwart his crueler games. This time around, Goto actually witnesses Seki's goofing off...and thinks it's a sign of depression due to a fight with Yokoi. Yokoi almost reports Seki to a teacher because his distractions are really hurting her grades, but she refrains because she thinks he'll get in trouble on his own (except he doesn't).

I've now read enough volumes to get a feel for the role the series' few characters play. Uzawa is Seki's nemesis, the guy who messes with Seki's meticulous creations because he thinks Seki is just goofing off in class in a more normal way and he wants to join in. Goto is the girl who continually misunderstands Seki and Yokoi's relationship, even though she actually sees Seki in action this time. The robots aren't exactly characters, but it's now clear that Morishige plans to have them be series regulars, since they've shown up in every volume. This time around they escaped being found during an inspection.

Seki still hasn't said a word, and I suspect this will continue for the rest of the series. I do wonder what he thinks of Yokoi. Does he see her as a friend? Or at least something close? They have little fights over his meaner games, like his efforts to sink the snow bunny he made, but he doesn't seem to dislike her involvement the way he does Uzawa's.

The premise is starting to wear thin. I accidentally started volume 4 and didn't even realize I'd skipped most of this volume. This series is essentially the same sort of thing happening over and over - just one elaborate game/diversion after another, with Yokoi either enjoying it or getting mad (or both).

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.) ( )