Manga Review: If Witch, Then Which? Vol. 2 by Ato Sakruai (Japanese title Majo Raba Majo Reba)
Previously: When Haruka was a child, he was severely injured and was only saved by a blood transfusion from his friend Maruna. Ever since, he’s felt that he’s owed her his life and wanted to repay her. This was made more difficult by Maruna seeming to take a strong dislike to him.
As they hit puberty, it became evident that Maruna had the gift of magic, and could become a witch (in this world, only women can become witches.) Problem! While she’s theoretically very powerful, Maruna suffers from low blood pressure that causes her difficulty in actually controlling her magic. However, at any time she’s touching or touched by Haruka, her blood pressure rises just enough to allow her to gain control.
Haruka reasons that this happens because of her dislike for him and no other possible reason. Therefore, when it’s time for Maruna to take the entrance exam for Sacred Witch Academy, Haruka comes up with the one plan that will get her in. He disguises himself as a girl so that he can be there and touching her! This gets both Maruna and Haruka into the witch school since “they cast as one” and he must keep up the pretense.
In this volume, Haruka and Maruna have settled into school life a bit. They’ve figured out the best time to visit the communal bath to avoid exposing Haruka’s secret, only to have a special event cause every other girl in their class to hit the bath at the same time. Can Maruna master illusion magic that will prevent Haruka from being spotted as a boy, and him from seeing the girls naked?
Next up, it’s time to brew tea for the school’s sentient mandragora plant. Maruna’s tea is refused, but why, and can Haruka help her find a solution?
Following up on that, Haruka’s scoffing about Maruna not being ready to brew a love potion leads to that girl attempting that achievement only to have it go horribly awry.
Then a double-length story as the witchy celebration of Walpurgisnacht approaches. The pair are approached by prodigy student Oboro Kurokami to assist her with a personal matter. There is a door that only appears on that night, and the room behind it is only accessible then. If someone is still in the room when it disappears, then they also disappear, and ten years ago, Oboro’s mother had that happen to her.
It looks like Maruna will be trapped in the room if Haruka can’t reach her, but he’s a boy, so has no magical powers. Or is that quite true?
Haruka is aided in his impersonation by having a gender ambiguous name, a relatively high voice, and a not particularly masculine face or build, so he’s able to pass as a girl easily with the aid of a wig and padded underwear. Indeed, he’s uncannily good at this for someone with allegedly no crossdressing experience and it’s been noted he somehow had all the stuff he needed to hand on short notice in Volume One. Only Oboro seems to have noticed otherwise.
While Haruka doesn’t have any magical ability…probably, he’s very analytical and often is the one to figure out what’s gone wrong with a spell or how to deal with it. Maruna’s more passive when she’s not angry, and has an under-confidence problem. This despite being one of the most powerful students in years.
Maruna and Haruka’s relationship is romantic comedy territory. They’ve actually caught feelings for each other, but between his dedication to duty and her easily irritated surface personality, they don’t realize it. Pretty much everyone else has noticed, and thinks they’re either lesbians or in a romantic two-girl friendship phase.
The magic system is a distant third in story priority. The most interesting part in this volume is that each witch has “resonance” for different kinds of magic sources/targets. Maruna’s especially strong in moonlight resonance, which per Oboro may explain some of her control difficulties. Oboro’s mother had the same affinity and she apparently had a partner who helped her with that, but Oboro doesn’t remember the details.
The art’s okay.
Content note: Female nudity of the Barbie doll type. This book is mostly aimed at teens.
This is pretty lightweight romantic comedy with a magical twist. Recommended for fans of crossdressing romance.
