HIKARU IN THE LIGHT! (VOLUME 3)

A seasoned performer attempts to find her footing as a team leader.

The first installments of this manga series saw bright-eyed Hikaru and stoic Ran competing to join a new pop-star group, and things are getting increasingly challenging as eliminations begin. In this third volume, Hikaru, an amateur singer who cut her chops singing in her grandparents’ Tokyo bathhouse, and Ran, her older friend who has already spent years performing with a popular Japanese girl group, have been assigned to teams of five and are set to be judged on song and dance performances they’ve prepared themselves. This book focuses primarily on Ran’s internal struggle; her teammates choose her as group leader based on her professional experience. Though she’s an industry veteran, she’s always been in the background, and she struggles to speak up, take charge, and articulate what’s needed to bring out the best in her fellow contestants. Searching her heart to determine why she still seeks stardom, Ran, a talented but somewhat stymied performer, remembers that it makes her truly happy to bring her audience joy. Like the previous entries, this tale emphasizes intense self-reflection and the complex alchemy that creates a skillful musical performance. Ran’s highly focused mood gives the story a somewhat more sober tone and look than the earlier volumes and will bring readers closer to the series superstar cast.

Sincere soul-searching set before a sparkling backdrop.