This volume was full of introspection from Konatsu on her relationship to Koyuki. Koyuki is moving forward in her relation to others around her and Konatsu isn't sure how she feels about that. There seems to be a bit of a disconnect/misunderstanding between the two of them that I hope will be cleared up in the next volume. (This one had a lot of strife and I really feel for the both of them.)

I wrote in my review of the last volume "The series as a whole does, however, capture the uncertainty and isolation of the high school years really well. Charming but slightly frustrating read," and things are much the same, if a little darker here. One of the main characters is dipping dangerously into codependent dysfunctional relationship territory and I'd really like to see her snap out of it soon in the next volume. Still worth reading but the characters' internal drama and the slightly dysfunctional relationship is starting to wear on me a bit.

Whether or not you read this as yuri (and I do think it is), Konatsu and Koyuki's relationship is starting to head into dangerous territory. One girl is trying to break out of her shell, but the other isn't sure that she's comfortable with that - because that means that she'll have to share the one person she's truly bonded with since her move. Co-dependency isn't healthy no matter what the relationship, and this could be the moment that shapes the girls' relationship going forward - whether they want it to or not.

Unfortunately, A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow Volume 6 doesn’t quite live up to the highs set by its predecessor. The yuri manga series from mangaka Makoto Hagino centers on the relationship between new student Konatsu and Koyuki after Konatsu joins the aquarium club. The two forge a strong bond in their own little world, but as their friend groups expand, they realize they may have stronger feelings for one another than just friendship. The manga is published in English by VIZ Media, but at the time of this review, the localization credits for volume 6 had not been provided.

If Volume 5 focused on Koyuki’s relationships with others, then A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow Volume 6 focuses on Konatsu’s lack thereof. Konatsu sees Koyuki and Kaede hanging out one day, and looking close. She is surprised because instead of feeling happy that her friends are getting along, she doesn’t like it. What follows is a rather introspective and angsty reflection on Konatsu’s part. While Koyuki is getting ready to graduate and is breaking out of her shell, Konatsu has convinced herself that Koyuki is all she has. She has formed a bit of a dependence on Koyuki and even admits that a part of her doesn’t want Koyuki to make other friends so she can have her all to herself. It is definitely a toxic dependency, but the purpose is Konatsu realizing that it isn’t healthy.

The delivery of all this in A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow Volume 6 is mixed in its effectiveness. Some moments hit like a punch in the gut, with Konatsu fighting anxiety attacks and struggling to articulate her feelings amidst social anxiety. Other times, it reads more like a melodrama, where Konatsu’s internal writhing at times is repetitive and overblown. It can grate on the nerves, especially since the solution is so simple: communicate. Their moments with Kaede, Koyuki, and Koyuki’s brother are actually the best. All three are having different struggles with social anxiety, but even in a shorter amount of time, it is conveyed a bit better than Konatsu’s. Overall, this volume is fine, but it feels as though the content was stretched out to fill it.

Hagino’s artwork remains consistent. Due to the introspective nature, shading is heavily utilized. The weight of Konatsu’s anxiety can be felt by the reader, as the page slowly progresses to pitch-black backgrounds. Additionally, in the pitch black of the pages, Hagino occasionally draws bubbles, as though Konatsu is drowning in her own thoughts. It is a nice detail that readers who struggle with similar issues will relate to.

A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow Volume 6 is an okay installment in the series. It dwells a bit too much in some places, turning relatable into melodrama. It often feels as though the content wasn’t enough for the volume, but forced to fill it anyway. The series is still enjoyable, but ideally, Konatsu will grow past her toxic dependency next time.