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Kei und Akiras Sandkastenfreund Yahiro erzählt Hikari, dass Kei in Hikari verliebt ist. Seither kann Hikari nur verkrampft und ungeschickt mit Kei reden... Währenddessen beginnt ein Wettkampf zur Bestimmung des Reiseziels der Special-A!! Sollte Hikari hier verlieren, muss sie Kei persönlich weitersagen, was Yahiro ihr erzählt hat...!

First published March 18, 2005

About the author

Maki Minami

65 books265 followers
Maki Minami ( 南マキ) is a Japanese manga author. She is best known as the author of manga series Special A.

In 2001, her short story Day Dream Believer (デイ・ドリーム・ビリーバー) received an Honourable Mention for Hakusensha's 25th Athena awards. She debuted in Hana to Yume's October 2001 issue with a short story titled Faraway Blue (彼方の青 Kanata no Ao).
Maki Minami's longest running series, Special A, began publication in 2003 and recently ended in 2009. Her current series, Seiyū ka-! began serialization in Hana to Yume in 2009, after the completion of Special A. Her recent works also include the oneshot Ane☆Mone Seikaten (アネ☆モネ 生花店), which appeared in the April 2009 edition of The Hana to Yume.

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5 stars
1,366 (51%)
4 stars
720 (27%)
3 stars
454 (17%)
2 stars
80 (3%)
1 star
20 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Ahmad Sharabiani.
9,563 reviews462 followers
October 13, 2019
Special A, Vol. 3 (Special A #3), Maki Minami
Yahiro, a childhood friend of Kei and Akira, tells Hikari that Kei is in love with her. An embarrassed Hikari would confront Kei to find out the truth...if she wasn't so busy avoiding him!
Profile Image for R.
1,822 reviews5 followers
December 24, 2018
So cute and so dramatic!! I can't wait until these characters figure out their stuff! I'm really enjoying this series. Again, cute illustrations until the mangaka wants silliness (or extreme drama!) and then she definitely delivers!

Her obsession with puppets/Muppets throughout the manga is funny too!!
Profile Image for Beth.
1,234 reviews181 followers
October 28, 2020
The author--in her early career here--seems to be struggling with episode ideas in the first part of this volume. Maybe it's because I'm really not a fan of stories, and there was an example of that in this volume. I'm not convinced that seven people would fall right into line with what Chitose wanted out of politeness to a middle-school aged kid. That episode, and the one with the girl-chasing creeps, were more uncomfortable than funny for me.

The first time I was reading S.A., I think I checked out around here. But I kept on collecting them, so I must have seen enough in it to want to finish it. If nothing else, I wanted to see just how long Hikari could be oblivious about Kei's feelings for her! (Her blushing, violent denial whenever the subject comes up is super cute.) I look forward to seeing Minami's development as a mangaka as the series goes along.
Profile Image for Francine.
1,152 reviews29 followers
June 6, 2024
Ok I enjoyed this volume very much!!! Again, romance is a very personal genre and we all have different things that we like -- this volume had some arcs that catered specifically to meeeeeee.

It starts off with the group going to Hawaii. (Not a very original topic or setting, but what can you do, a romcom school manga needs a road trip.) This arc ends with a little kiss on the neck and phew yes that was really good, I enjoyed that a lot. Also, Yahiro shows up again, and he's probably my favourite character so I'll always be happy to see him!

The volume ends with a fake date (another staple of the genre). I feel pretty whatever towards that trope, BUT I did like that we get to know Tadashi a bit better, because I was waiting to see more about him!

The enemies-to-lovers plot is progressing smoothly, and after this volume, I am finally invested in their little romance drama. I'm glad I kept reading after the first two mediocre volumes -- the plot is still not revolutionary or anything, but I am starting to get into it!
Profile Image for Lizzie RoseShine.
704 reviews8 followers
July 14, 2020
I laugh when Akira n kei beat tadashi.😂Poor tadashi even his mother is scary to him plus side story when tadashi n Jun join the puppet show but megumi don't like it n n write it on her sketchbook n show Jun n tadashi. Tadashi gonna called Ryu but Jun won't let him in his scary face of his. When hikari confessed to kei about what yahiro said to her but tadashi to the rescue using his bike n ruined their talk 😂 n destroy the greenhouse S.A place .In anime is different when tadashi remembered the bumping jumper thing that his mother tortured him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Soobie is expired.
6,783 reviews131 followers
November 28, 2019
Non so cosa dire di questa serie… Non riesco a farmela piacere del tutto. O meglio, i personaggi secondari sono molto più simpatici della protagonista.

Lei sarà anche un genio dalla forza umana spaventosa, ma è cretina dentro. E non c'è speranza di redenzione. E non capisco come il tipo tutto perfetto possa andarle dietro.

Sono sfide continue ma solo per il gusto di portare avanti la trama.

Sigh, fortuna si leggono alla svelta.
Profile Image for -moonprismpower-.
2,566 reviews12 followers
June 17, 2021
This volume was so much better than the first two! The annoying character introductions that were at the beginning of every chapter previously are now gone!! And it was less episodic!

I really love the overdramatized humor in this series!
The Hawaii chapters were brilliant!
And the chapter with Tadashi and the whole “girlfriend” situation had me dying!!!

I’m glad I didn’t give up the series before this volume! Can’t wait to read some more!
Profile Image for Sadie.
12 reviews2 followers
March 14, 2019
I don't write reviews for individual manga volumes unless there is a major change in quality or a noteworthy occurrence.

This is just a PSA to say that this is the volume where the intro summaries for each chapter finally stop!
Profile Image for Nur Fitri.
24 reviews
September 18, 2020
Psstttt

Kei kissed Hikari for the first time🤭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kurtis Burkhardt.
5,998 reviews50 followers
October 8, 2020
Pretty good and cute school life manga, pretty decent story and love the characters and art style👌😁😻❤️
Profile Image for Morgan Vank.
146 reviews
June 24, 2014
Come check out my book blog! Teenage Bookaholic

SYNOPSIS: *Please note that this is a review for the entire series, comprised of 17 books*
Hikari Hanazono is not your typical high school girl. While she comes from a modest background, she strives to do her best at anything and everything to top her rival. After losing an impromptu wrestling match as a child, Hikari made it her life's goal to beat Kei Takishima, a wealthy child who is destined to work for the family business, any way possible. She is so determined, she enrolled in the same elite private school as Kei, and worked her way to be number 2 out of not just her class, but the entire school, making her a part of an elite group of 7 called Special A. For Hikari, it's not enough, as Kei is sitting pretty as number 1.

With her friends, Akira, Megumi, Jun, Tadashi, and Ryu along for the ride, Special A follows the comedic adventures of the top 7 students at Hakusenkan High- as Kei is forced to work for the family business, as Jun learns to love, as Megumi finds her voice, as Ryu discovers the hidden face of love, as Tadashi opens up, and as Hikari continues to fight for number 1!

REVIEW: Unlike YA novels, I do not know my favorite type of manga yet. I mostly pick manga based on what series has the first volume on my library's shelves.... It can be a hit or miss, but this was a hit.

Similar to Veronica Roth, the series has a fast pace to it, constantly creating new drama and plot twists that never let the series grow boring. Some things you could see coming, but others not so much. Either way, I was not bored, and the book did not have any prolonged focus on romances, which can be boring for me. The story was also relatable: a student striving for success with friend drama, as well as personal dramas.

With most manga, I have issue of telling characters apart; just when I think it's Person A talking, its Person R, a close look-a-like to Person A, and even when I can tell the characters apart (barely), I still cannot remember the long, authentic Japanese names. None of these issues came up in the series. Consistently, the series would use the formal last name AND informal first, which helped me remember the name as Hikari Hanazono, not Ms. Hanazono or just Hikari... something. Also, the art was very well done, allowing me to tell character differences by expression and hairstyle.

This leads me to the art, which was glorious! Much detail was taken in to the backgrounds (as pointed out by Minami in her novels), and outfits. I also enjoyed the sporadic and roaming quarter pages of commentary. How she talks about a pseudo burglary at her place while the gang is in some sort of peril added a sense of nonchalance that fit the series. It's about the adventure these characters take, rather than following the emotion of the drama.

While this all sounds like a great series, a few elements ruined the series for me. First was the panel styling. Many of the panels were overlapping, which led to a choppy flow of reading. Incredibly distracting and confusing, which stole from enjoying the series. Second, the focus could have been turned more towards other characters in the series. It is titled Special A, but the story mainly focuses on Hikari and Kei. I personally would have liked to learn more about what happened to Ryu and his lover before the conclusion, or whether Akira and her old friend could get along. It had more chapters on Hikari and Kei than any one S.A. member. Lastly, I was not a fan of outside girls, interfering with Kei and Hikari. I am not saying I was protective of Kei and Hikari, but I found it rather obnoxious. It was framed like the S.A. were a special elite group, which they were, and everyone else, who wasn't rich at least, was an outsider to the group. It was like the author had to put the characters on a pedestal to make the series work, which wasn't necessary. It seemed almost like the group was discriminatory towards anyone not of wealth, and when I say discriminatory, i mean they behaved like elitists rather than hateful. Hikari was an exception from an early age, mind you.

All in all, Special A was a comedic read that was pleasurable and realistic. It had good momentum until the end, and was interesting to see how the schooling system works in Japan. I would give it more stars if not for the misleading paneling.

I will now conclude with my favorite quote from page 10 of volume 12:
"Ryu: YOU DON'T GET TO PICK! And why a mountain?!!
Tadashi: A MOUNTAIN WOULD BE ANY GUY'S DREAM!!
Ryu: Go eat a s'more.
Tadashi: That's amore.
Ryu: Mahjongg!
Tadashi: GAME!"
639 reviews
February 15, 2011
I love Tadashi!!! He is my favourite character!!!!!!!!
Tadashi ♥♥♥ :D

So this review is for the overall series. I give the overall series 5 stars because it was raelly good.

Funny at times, romantic at times, cute at times, sad at times. Also, I really loved the art (It's true! I have some saved pictures from things in the book.)

I would like to say that Hikari is SOOOOOOOO dense. I mean like crazy. I'm not even joking. I'm not going to tell you why but I want to say that when she said that and Takishima was all surprised and some-what happy but then she said something else, I was like in my head, "Wow. She is just so... wow."

One thing I rally love in this book is how Megumi and Jun love Ryuu. It is just so entertaining watching them hug Ryuu. Be protective of you. Huh, it was so cute it was hilarious.

I find it very surprising what Finn is. I was like "HOLY SHIAT!" in the book when I found out. And then with Ryuu and then Hikari. LOL. I hate Finn's father for a reason you will find out if you read the books. :D

I'm not sure if you care but. in this manga there is this one picture of Takishimi and Hikari that I just love to stare at. It looks very nice and I love it for some reason. I even hang it up in my room. I'm such a loser.

I like Megumi's name. I like the fact that she can sing so good that it is dangerous. I also love how she writes down what she wants to say.

Takishima in the manga I like; not so much in the anime. This is probably because in the anime, Takishimi has brown hair a kinda really deep voice and is really thin and lanky (most of the characters in the manga are thin and lanky. :P. In the manga, Takishimi has blond hair, I imagine him with a slighter higher voice and he isn't that thin and lanky. Anyway....

Miss Number Too. I love how Takishima always finds a way to be number one. Like that one test when he got 105%. LAWLS!

So here's what I thought of the book. It was really good. Funny, romantic(in a weird way?) and entertaining. Even thoguh it is Shoujo, I think everyone should read it. :D
Profile Image for Alya Atiera.
308 reviews17 followers
May 14, 2016
The rating and review are conclusion for all of the volumes. Except for the synopsis.

Okay, where do I begin? The first volume is not that bad. A bit like warming up. As the story goes on, it gets more interesting and funnier. I love the ending. It's totally cute!

It's good and I enjoy it! Totally worth giving it a try! :)

Synopsis for volume 3:
Yahiro is Kei and Akira's childhood friend. In the previous voulme, Kei went to the Yahiro's birthday party with Hikari. Yahiro told Hikari about Kei's feelings towards her.

Hikari is a bit dense so of course she doesn't realize that. However, she keeps thinking about it and begins to act weirdly around Kei.

Kei notices that and he wants to know what Yahiro told Hikari that makes her acting weirdly. Somehow Hikari refuses to tell Kei about it. Kei made a competition between SA and if she loses, she has to tell him.

Profile Image for Daniellesof2014.
68 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2009
The S.A. students are going to Hawaii for a summer break. Hikari went shopping with her friends Akiria and Megumi; they dragged along Kei because he had nothing else better to do. After words they go to Ryu's villa to stay where they meet the Chitose the baby brother of Yahiro. She goes to his villa with him because he wouldn't let go of Hikari, that’s where he proposed a deal with her, she would be bait for a plan of his that would go his way.

This book remained of when Bella went to James thinking that her mother was in James’s clutches but she wasn't and Edward goes to save her, well in the book Kei goes to basically save Hikari from Yahiro.

I gave this book 5 stars because I thought that the part where Hikari is being saved by Kei was the best part of the book.
Profile Image for Janet Wu.
73 reviews
August 10, 2013
Okay, I know it seems cruel, but I feel like the author has disappointed me. The series was supposed to be about Hikari and Kei but as soon as I started on the books after vol.2 it seemed like it was more about all of the S.A. students and not mainly Hikari and Kei. Sorry Maki Minami.

Though it's more about S.A. students then the 2, the humor is still all in there which makes me very happy. Hikari is still her normal optimistic self and Kei is moody as usual. The have their Lover's Spat which gets them in all sorts of trouble, and Hikari works on admitting her attraction to Kei. Very satisfying.
Profile Image for Reader17 Der.
523 reviews5 followers
November 12, 2008
This is such a great series. They try to go on vacation during summer break. Kei has some issues with some of the guys checking Hikari out. These guys want to beat up Kei for being with her. In another part while on vacation they have to look out for a little cousin who makes them each pretend to be someone. Poor Hikari has to pretend to be the family dog.Also in this series Hikari is still trying to deal with being told by Yahiro that Kei actually loves her. She doesn't believe him at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
264 reviews
December 2, 2010
Note:This review is a series review, not really a volume specific review.

One of my favorite mangas. An excellent shoujo (meaning it is a comic aimed at teenage girls) story about Hikari whose life mission is to beat Kei. She goes to a very expensive school (one that her family can barely afford) for the sole purpose of trying to beat Kei. Poor Hikari is a clueless and loving girl who is always #2 in everything while Kei is #1. A good mix of drama, hilarity, and sweetness.
Profile Image for Patricia.
1,031 reviews111 followers
March 29, 2013
As always, nice, but not really mindblowing. I do prefer this type of romance compared to some of the rather urgh-inducing shoujos out there, though.

There were several cute Kei scenes, too. Like.. him hilariously much enjoying her being the 'dog'. Couldn't stop laughing when he said "Papa" could take her inside. Haha!
Profile Image for Yue.
2,371 reviews30 followers
November 6, 2015
I am starting to really really like this manga, it is so funny! The expressions of Hikari are hilarious. And we finally get to know more about the other members of the SA. I find it very amusing that almost everyone find Kei so scary. I definitely want to watch the anime, I hope it is as funny as the manga!
Profile Image for Jenny Clark.
3,172 reviews119 followers
February 26, 2015
Ahahahaha loveing this series so far. Its so cute and sweet! Absolutly love Kei and Hikari's relationship again! And the helicoptor rescue... hehehe.

So I have a question for my fellow manga lovers. .. Actually two... I want to get Wild Ones and La Corda D' Oro. Are they worth it? And who is your favarite manga publisher?
Profile Image for Lauren.
3,619 reviews139 followers
February 21, 2015
This series was amazing! Hikari and Kai's relationship is so comedic and heartwarming. I got through this series so fast and I just wanted to keep reading. All the characters are fun and this series is very entertaining.

If you liked Ouran High School Host Club I would recommend this series.
Profile Image for Cecilyn.
99 reviews5 followers
July 5, 2013
Notes: Hakusenkan High School
Trip to Hawaii.. And fake GF episode... Ryu's challenge... Error in Hikari's profile (pg 36). It listed her having a younger brother... Should it not be an older brother instead?
Profile Image for Hannah.
557 reviews45 followers
September 21, 2014
Series Review: Special A is a interesting and cute manga that I really enjoyed. It was funny and entertaining plot and character wise. I most enjoyed the dynamic between the characters. I recommend giving this manga a try.
Profile Image for Amy M..
256 reviews22 followers
January 17, 2010
I love SA. My favorite character is Hikari. She is smart, funny and kind (even though at heart she is such a child). I think Hikari obsession with Kei has stunted her emotional growth.
Profile Image for Melainebooks.
1,882 reviews23 followers
July 4, 2011
La rivalité est plus que de mise mais toujours dans la joie et la bonne humeur ;)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

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