Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture Vol. 4 (manga) by Toji Aio & Mikage Sawamura: review

4/5 stars on Goodreads

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture vol 4 manga by Toji Aio & Mikage Sawamura

There have been two volume fours of Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture published this month, first the light novel and now the manga, so I’m not accidentally reviewing the same book twice.

The manga volume 4 starts with the conclusion of the case that was left unfinished in the previous one, about Mana, the “Miracle Girl of Okutama,” the child who survived a tragic bus crash and is now treated like a goddess. Akira takes a personal interest, having been treated similarly in his childhood, the reason why he’s no longer in touch with his family. For the first time, he gets angry even.

Next story takes place during the university spring break. Akira, Naoya and Kenji travel to a wintry mountain area where they investigate a demon cave, only to discover it holds human remains. It turns out to be a rather tragic story of family secrets, but nothing supernatural.

In the aftermath, Naoya comes face to face with the mystery entity inside Akira for the first time, the reason Akira’s eyes change colour, which should be a great revelation for the reader. Unfortunately, the manga doesn’t do the scene justice. The change of eye-colour is difficult to show in black and white illustrations, but there could’ve been other ways to emphasise the importance of the scene. Here, it looks like Akira comes on to Naoya, even though it’s supposed to be a really frightening supernatural event that shakes Naoya badly. Those who haven’t read the light novel will be really confused and maybe led astray in thinking where the relationship between the two is going.

The last story catches up with the vol 4 of the light novel. It’s April and Naoya’s second year at the university has begun. To his chagrin, everyone mistakes him for a first-year student, but at least he still gets to work with Akira. Their next case is about a curse that four office workers have summoned on themselves. It’s cut short just as it’s about to become interesting. Those who have read the light novel will know it has important consequences to Naoya. Readers of manga will have to wait for the next volume.

This was a good but very hasty volume. The pace is very fast and corners are cut, with above-mentioned results. The friendship between Naoya and Akira doesn’t have similar depth here as it has in the light novels either. It also leaves out the extra story from vol 3 of the light novel, which would’ve been an important addition. It’s from Kenji’s point of view, depicting his and Akira’s childhood and the supernatural event that took place years before Akira’s abduction. I hope that’s added to the next manga volume, or it gets a special volume, as it’s very interesting. The artist seems to hint at that in their afterword at least. Illustrations by Toji Aio were good, like always, showcasing the Japanese culture especially well.