Haruna knows she has one great strength and that is softball.  That is possibly, in her own estimation, her only strength.  So, in entering high school she decides to learn from a master the art of people.  Or more simply, she asks Yoh, the hottest, least approachable, most mysterious guy on campus to be her guide in the murky waters of flirtation.  Oddly enough, the crazy guy says yes.

After all, Haruna, with her boundless enthusiasm and skin several miles thick, is nothing if not entertaining.  And yet somehow she makes it.  Studying hard, she nets herself the perfect guy for her.  Her tutor, coach, and the hottest guy around.

Highlights

This is the premise for the wonderful series that is High School Debut.  The main character is clueless to a serious fault, but kind, loyal and utterly devoted to Yoh.  Yoh, for his part, is actually wild for Haruna — if he can be bothered to show facial expressions long enough to exhibit his feelings.  Sometimes he has trouble with being too cool to show anything at all.  Poor man.

By this point in the series, they've made it most of the way through high school and are preparing for college entrance exams.  However, Yoh has a birthday coming up, and to celebrate, Haruna has booked them on an overnight trip to the seaside!

There are two problems however.  When Haruna makes the plans, she doesn't understand the implications; how will she even survive sleeping alone in a room with her beloved Yoh?  And if she survives, what will Yoh say when he realizes she put them down as "married" on the registration?  Will he laugh it off or take the fine print seriously?  And could these two ever make it to home base intact?  The mind boggles, and I don't just mean Haruka!  All their friends are also panicking!

Overall

High School Debut is like any good highschool — a team endeavor made up of a number of leaders, all pulling the group in a variety of different directions — to study, to become friends, to have fights and go explore, to think on the past and worry about the future, and like any good team, it take the hard effort of all of them to truly get them in trouble.  And they manage it at least once a volume.

The art and pacing for the series is fantastic — each character gets its moment to shine and no one is always good or bad, selfish or selfless.  They are all foolish and young and utterly believeable — although Haruna is a terrible spazz.  The inside of her mind is a scary place.  I love it. It reminds me of home.  Also  I love her, and so does anyone who reads this series.  You cannot not fall in love with someone so utterly determined to fall in love and do it right the first time. Or possibly the second time.  Or maybe the third.  I love that woman.

ComicsOnline gives High School Debut Volume 12, 5 out of 5 inner tubes.