Chi's Sweet Home Volume 4 is, of course, the sequel to Chi's Sweet Home Volume 3. The review of Chi's Sweet Home Volume 1 is here and the review of Chi's Sweet Home Volume 3 is here. Otherwise, read on!
Chi is officially a part of the family now, as the Yamadas move to a pet-friendly apartment. It's hard work to move house, and how is such a little kitten going to get used to a new place? We'll find out here in Chi's Sweet Home Volume 4.
The pinic-basket-cum-cat-carrier is out again, but this time they're not on their way to he 'bad place.' This might be even more confusing, though, with the absolutely bizarre mix of 'home' smells and 'not-home' smells Chi has to navigate. And look at all those stairs!
Perhaps the best part of moving, though, is the doggy door to the fenced-in back yard. Since Chi is allowed to live here, she can now come and go as she pleases...if she can figure out exactly how that door works, that is. Although this is a pet friendly building, this also might cause some rather interesting interactions with the neighbors.
Chi hasn't forgotten old friends completely, though. Small reminders of an old presence and past capers fill Chi with a sense of longing and loss not unlike when she left her littermates. She might not always remember what's missing, since she is a kitten after all, but a dish of fried chicken bits still brings up old memories.
Chi's Sweet Home does a great job of tempering the cuteness inherent in a comic about a kitten with just a bit of the melancholy and loss that comes with growing up. These chapters keep each volume from becoming too saccharine sweet. Here's hoping that Konami Katana can keep it up throughout the series and continue to be one of the best slice-of-life comics out there today.
Highs: Meeting all the new not-human neighbors
Lows: Not as much sibling interaction between Chi and Youhei
Verdict: Still excellent, especially if most cute manga leave you with a bad taste in your mouth
Further Reading: Yotsuba&!, Bunny Drop
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