The fourth and final volume of VizBig's Three-in-One collection of  Hot Gimmick is out and concludes the love triangle between Hatsumi, her adopted brother Shinogu, and Ryoki. You will be wondering who Hatsumi chooses as you continue reading as she interacts with both men in her lives and onlookers who are all split on who they think she should be with.

Highlights

Volume 10
As Hatsumi is still unsure of who she should be with, she continues seeing Ryoki. With trouble at home, Hatsumi decides the best course of action would be forgetting about her family and running away with Ryoki. While at a hotel that Ryoki's father used to use, Hatsumi learns a truth that connects her family, Ryoki's father, and Azusa's family. Due to Ryoki's actions, however, Hatsumi decides to leave him and go home where she bumps into Shinogu who had been trying to find her. As Ryoki and Hatsumi are brought home and meet up with their respective families, the truth is revealed to Ryoki's mother and Hatsumi decides to stay with Shinogu.

Volume 11
Hatsumi is staying with Shinogu to get away from Ryoki and the problems that it would cause draws heavily on Ryoki's morale; not only that, it raises conflicting emotions in Hatsumi due to her being unable to not think of Shinogu as just a guy instead of as her brother. Even with this peace, Hatsumi still isn't sure she made the right choice and her reluctance pains Shinogu. After learning that Ryoki's family would be moving out of the apartment complex, Hatsumi decides to return home but accidentally bumps into Ryoki.

Volume 12
This is the final volume of the Hot Gimmick series and involves the tough choice for Hatsumi: will she be with Ryoki or Shinogu. The emotional level is high in the air and a few choice words are given. There is even a confrontation between Ryoki and his own mother.

Overall

I was surprised when I learned that this was the final volume of Hot Gimmick. Not that I'm a big fan, but in the way it ended left a lot of threads hanging. Miki Aihara acknowledges that some wouldn't agree with her ending, so she has released a novel that involves an alternate ending to the series. The first chapter is added to this collection and I feel that is a nice touch.

The artwork was pleasing on the eyes at times but other times, the way the some of the characters were drawn just looked silly to me. The eyes of certain characters are just too large, even when the characters are not drawn in an exagerated manner.

ComicsOnline gives Hot Gimmick, Volume 4 2.5 love stories out of 5

You can buy Hot Gimmick, Volume 4 at Amazon.com now!

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