MANGA REVIEW | "Fly Me to the Moon" - Volume Twenty
I was very disappointed with the last volume of Fly Me to the Moon, as I felt like most of the book went almost nowhere with the main plot. Thankfully, that problem doesn’t exist in Volume Twenty, as we get a bountiful of new reveals and mysteries about Tsukasa and her past. We also get more of what is the main strength of Fly Me to the Moon: innocent naughtiness!
Nasa and Tsukasa attempt to have a nice break in Tsukasa’s mountain hideaway. However, Chitose and some of Nasa’s classmates stumble on their cabin “accidentally”. Kaguya takes the opportunity to snoop around Tsukasa’s secret hideaway, finding a mysterious door in the basement. Behind that door lies a mystery that goes back well over 800 years!
It’s this moment here where Kaguya gets a little closure over just who Tsukasa is. The doorway leads to a graveyard that hides clues to the whereabouts of certain historical figures. People who had seemingly vanished from the public eye, with their final resting place being in this secret area of Tsukasa’s cabin. Now the question remains: did they die naturally, or did they meet an untimely fate?
That might be a question best answered in a future Fly Me to the Moon volume. With the discovery of a strange fragment, a new part of Tsukasa’s past is about to be unveiled. And it looks like something to do with some past covers of the manga, where Tsukasa looks a little bloodthirsty. Once it’s revealed, will Nasa be able to see her the same way again? (Oh who are we kidding? He’d still love her!)
We get more of what has made Fly Me to the Moon a fun read: the silly risqué moments. The students coerce Tsukasa to take a bath with her hubby, something Nasa is all for. However, the couple is very aware that the walls are thing, and these students (and Chitose) could have an ear on what they may be doing. (In fact, that’s exactly what these rambunctious teens are doing!) But the real naughtiness is saved for Chitose, who is found with a naked lady cuddling with her!
Most of this volume has the fun that we’ve come to expect from this series. With that being said, the two-parter focused on Miyako, Shirogane, and Kaguya‘s friendship origins were kind of slow reads. They didn’t do much to push the story forward, nor does it add anything special to what their friendship means. There are some good laughs, but nothing that can be compared to the main plot of the manga.
With that being said, Volume Twenty of Fly Me to the Moon is a step-up from Volume Nineteen. Plot progress is being made, and a couple of new mysteries have been added to twist up Tsukasa’s past. Where it’ll all lead will no doubt open the eyes of Nasa, but it could (and probably should) aid in making this couple feel closer than ever. It’s not exactly 100% back on track, but the latest Fly Me to the Moon does deliver with the things that have made Kenjiro Hata’s story an enjoyable read.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
