Having moved previous the preliminary set-up, we’re now into Quantity 3 of Usotoki Rhetoric. At this level, readers have a good suggestion of Kanoko and Souma’s personalities in addition to the sort of issues they get themselves into each day. What awaits them on this third instalment? Let’s discover out!
As we rejoin our protagonists we discover them on a practice headed to what Kanoko thinks is a brand new case. In fact, Souma is fleeing the city after realising he can’t afford this month’s hire! However as we all know, bother at all times finds these two and it’s not lengthy earlier than Souma notices a suspicious particular person among the many passengers who appears to be stealing baggage…
After fixing that incident, the 2 are observed by fellow passenger Miyabi Hanasaki, who’s the sister of Kaoru Hanasaki (Souma’s childhood pal and the police detective typically serving to him). Listening to about Souma’s bother paying hire, Miyabi provides to pay it for him, supplied he and Kanoko assist her out on the case she’s gathering details about for the occult journal Spirit Hunt.
Miyabi is on her option to be taught extra in regards to the Doll Homicide Incident the place a month in the past a younger woman referred to as Ine was discovered useless hugging a doll – however witnesses say that earlier than she died, she was heard claiming to have killed a doll. Ine labored as a servant for the Ayao Residence, in any other case referred to as the Doll Home as a result of the household ‘elevate dolls’ as a prayer to assist sickly women develop up wholesome. Daily the dolls are wearing a brand new kimono and served the identical meals as the remainder of the household.
After the dying of her dad and mom two years in the past, Shinako (thought to solely be 17-18 years outdated) has grow to be the pinnacle of the family. Rumours flow into about Shinako (who seems to be as fairly as a doll) and unusual occasions on the residency, reminiscent of voices being heard when nobody however the dolls are in a room and that their meals mysteriously vanishes. Even on this case, Ine thought that rats had been stealing the meals ignored for the prayer and determined to place rat poison in it. Afterwards, she discovered a doll mendacity on its facet with foam round its mouth as if it actually had been poisoned, main her to panic that she had killed it. Was an inanimate object killed or is there one thing else happening right here? Collectively our three major characters should try and resolve a thriller far larger than they might have ever imagined.
Creator Ritsu Miyako talks about how up till now Usotoki Rhetoric has adopted a ‘monster of the week’ sort of construction, with brief chapters targeted on a single case. However this time we spend the entire quantity with this single storyline, which is sort of a drastic change to what we’re used to however one which works for the higher in my view. Not least as a result of there’s a number of depth to this thriller, but in addition as a result of we’ve got the brand new character Miyabi to get acquainted with.
Similar to Kaoru, Miyabi’s the right intermediary between Souma and Kanoko, serving to the 2 talk with one another when one or each are in any other case anxious or unable to place their ideas collectively correctly. She will not be a detective herself, however meaning her view and sensibilities differ from the others and that change in perspective is usually the breakthrough they want.
This storyline additionally builds on the set-up from Quantity 2 with Kanako being compelled to consider why folks lie and when lies are acceptable. Not all lies are dangerous and with the ability to determine which is which goes to be essential for her going ahead if she desires to proceed investigating instances with Souma. She’s grown a number of independence in comparison with after we first met her in Quantity 1 too and it’s attention-grabbing to see how her relationship with Souma has been altering due to it. I initially grew to become eager about Usotoki Rhetoric due to the thriller aspect, however as time has gone on, I discover myself very invested in seeing Kanako’s story by means of to the tip as effectively.
Usotoki Rhetoric Quantity 3 involves the West due to One Peace Books and continues to be translated by Molly Rabbit. The interpretation reads effectively, though I confess I discovered myself a bit confused when Miyabi is launched because it has been translated as household title first, given title second. It is smart given the setting, however I’m used to these being swapped round for an English translation to first title then household title, in order that momentarily threw me off That is per earlier volumes, so it’s not a problem it’s simply that till now we’ve largely learnt character names by means of extra casual exchanges utilizing first names, versus somebody introducing themselves on this approach.
One Peace Books has Quantity 4 scheduled for an English launch on the finish of September, however #5 isn’t out till January 2024 after which there’s nothing additional within the schedule so we can have fairly a big hole between these going ahead, sadly. Hopefully, the writer might be ending the sequence…
Total, Usotoki Rhetoric Quantity 3 modifications ways because it introduces a volume-long thriller for Kanako and Souma to analyze. It’s at all times dangerous to vary the construction of a sequence when it has been working so effectively, however creator Ritsu Miyako pulls it off splendidly and supplies us with one other partaking learn.
