Just Like Mona Lisa Volumes 9 and 10 Review

The main story for Just Like Mona Lisa reached its conclusion in Volume 8, leaving readers with an open ending when it comes to Hinase’s gender transition. But the <a href="https://comicvibe.com/netflixs-best-horror-series-ranked/” title=”Netflix's Best Horror Series, Ranked”>series was not yet over! Square Enix went on to simultaneously release Volume 9 and 10, which offer two alternate endings for the series. Do they prove interesting? Let’s find out!

Volume 9 presents us with a future where Hinase has chosen to become a woman. There are three main chapters here, as well as two side stories about some of the side cast and a prologue. These main chapters show Hinasa dating Shiori and enjoying a summer trip to a hot spring, as well as a story of them dating Ritsu and coming to terms with the realities of being a same-sex couple. In this case, Hinase and Ritsu being together feels more like the author’s original intention, as it feels more natural than the chapter with Shiori.

And then in Volume 10 we get to see what happens if Hinase chooses to become a man. Again, there are situations where Hinase dates either Shiori or Ritsu and the challenges their relationship faces from Hinase being male. Interestingly, it’s the same-sex relationship that feels the most natural here and has more time spent on it.

Mangaka Tsumuji Yoshimura stresses that the stories told here are just a few possibilities and that other paths for Hinase and the rest of the cast certainly exist. This is a series where Yoshimura seems keen for readers to come up with their own future for Hinase, which, given the complicated nature of their gender situation, I think is one of the only ways you could come to a satisfying conclusion.

One thing I liked about Volume 10 in particular is that we get to see Hinase as an adult and having chosen to become a school nurse. Now they help other kids who are struggling with navigating their gender, which I thought was a really great career for Hinase given their own history. We see a glimpse of this in Volume 9 as well, but there’s a longer storyline involving Hinase’s job in #10.

These side story chapters do a good job of wrapping up their particular storylines as well. A favourite of mine, again in #10, is where we find Shirogane still struggling with his feelings toward Kurokawa. And this was among my favourite arcs in the main series, so I was glad to see it readdressed here.

Clearly neither of these books is supposed to be the definitive end for Hinase’s story. While there’s a world in which readers could just pick one or the other based on how they wanted to see Hinase transition, I would encourage readers to pick up both releases. Not only due to the side story material, but also because I think these both carry the kind of thoughtful messaging Yoshimura has packed the series with over the previous 8 books. I had my frustrations with the direction the original story went, but I truly believe Yoshimura has their heart in the right place. There’s a strong sentiment here that our gender doesn’t have to influence who we are or the things we love, and that’s not something anyone could write if they didn’t believe in it.

As mentioned, Just Like Mona Lisa Volume 9 and 10 come to the West thanks to Square Enix Manga and have been translated by Leo McDonagh with lettering by Kyla Aiko, who have both continued to do a fantastic job. Both releases come complete with colour pages, showing off Hinase’s appearance in both genders.

Overall, while you could treat these two books as a ‘choose your own ending’, they are in fact both required reading if you want to see how some of the side stories shake out. There were only so many ways you could bring a series like this to a close, and I think this has been the right choice.

Our review copies from Square Enix Manga were supplied by Turnaround Comics (Turnaround Publisher Services).

Demelza

When she’s not watching anime, reading manga or reviewing, Demelza can generally be found exploring some kind of fantasy world and chasing her dreams of being a hero.

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