Orange Volume 3 Manga Review: A Christian Perspective on Ichigo Takano’s Heartbreaking Manga

In our Christian review of Orange Volume 3, we will explore Ichigo Takano’s manga from a Christian perspective. Contains a parent and content guide.

This review is about volume 3 of the Orange manga series. For our review on Orange Volume 1, click here, and for our review on Orange Volume 2, click here. For our overview of the entire Orange series, click here.

Synopsis of Orange Volume 3

In Volume 3 of Orange by Ichigo Takano, Naho is no longer working alone. With Naho and Suwa both receiving letters from their future selves, the two are determined to help Kakeru and prevent tragedy. As their letters grow less reliable, they must depend on their own judgment. They celebrate Kakeru’s birthday, navigate school events, and confront difficult truths about his future.

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Orange Volume 3 Manga Review

In this Orange Volume 3 manga review, we will continue exploring Naho’s relationship with Kakeru and her attempt to save him. For the first two volumes of Ichigo Takano’s Orange manga, Naho was working solo, shouldering the burden of saving a friend from death with only the help of a letter from her future self. However, with Suwa and Naho both receiving letters from their future selves, everything changes. Now that Suwa is by her side, she has someone to share her burden with, and it’s beautiful.

The entire review will contain mild spoilers, but I will spoiler tag any major ones.

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A Note on the Version

My initial reading of Orange Volume 3 was from the omnibus version, so my review mostly reflects the content as it appears in the omnibus. I sometimes reference other versions, such as the Kindle version (which is not an omnibus).

Depending on where I get my quotes (online, from the book directly, or from the Kindle version) there may be some variance, but the content should still be the same even if there are some translation differences. The first omnibus collects volumes 1-3 of the Orange manga, and the second collects volumes 4-5 of Orange and contains a bonus story.

There are five manga volumes of Orange in Ichigo Takano’s main story, and an additional two sequels. This review will focus on the third volume.

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Kakeru’s Birthday Celebration: Paralleling Orange’s Past and Future

They start by planning a birthday celebration for his upcoming birthday. Each of the gang, including Azu, Taka, and Hagita, asks Kakeru what he wants for his birthday, and gets it for him.

*Spoiler* Kakeru asks (somewhat jokingly) for a bouquet of flowers from Suwa. Suwa gets them for him to give to Naho. Kakeru gives the flowers to Naho himself, and admits his feelings.

In the future the gang brings the late Kakeru gifts for his 18th birthday, one they were unable to celebrate because he had committed suicide before they got the chance to celebrate. Each of the gifts they give him in the future parallels the gifts their past selves plan to give him. Though Naho hasn’t shared her letter with anyone but Suwa, the gang seems like-minded and works together to give Kakeru a great birthday. They are truly kind to him.

*Spoiler* Suwa gives flowers to Naho from Kakeru—and yes, Suwa and Naho are married.

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Kakeru, Naho, and Suwa: The Love Triangle No One Wants to Be In *Spoiler Alert*

 In my review for Volume 2 of Orange, we discussed Suwa and Kakeru’s odd relationship. Both like Naho, yet both try to encourage the other to be with her. Suwa, in particular, seems especially determined to get Kakeru and Naho together.

In Volume 3 of Orange, Suwa tells Kakeru that he should confess his feelings to Naho, and Kakeru asks, “What about you, though?” Suwa’s actions, though consistent with his character in Orange Volume 2, reveal that he’s giving up on his future.

We also find out that future Suwa has asked past Suwa to encourage Naho and Kakeru in their relationship and to put aside his own feelings—he tells himself to focus on soccer. This is especially concerning because, in the future, Naho and Suwa are married with a baby: future Suwa is literally stopping himself from ending up with his future wife.

And no, there doesn’t seem to be any sort of abuse in their relationship—it’s more that they are both traumatized/hurt by losing Kakeru.

From a Christian standpoint, Suwa’s choices are problematic.

Matthew 19:4-6 (ESV) says:

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

In the future, Naho and Suwa are in a marriage covenant. I understand that Suwa believes Naho would’ve been happier with Kakeru, but he’s trying to change his future with his wife. Not to mention, erasing their marriage erases their child, too (and just to clarify, Suwa isn’t literally erasing his son in the present—it’s his future self giving instructions that, if followed, will keep past Suwa from marrying Naho and having a child).

Of course, with Kakeru admitting his feelings, it seems like Kakeru will win the hand of Naho, right?

Naho doesn’t admit her feelings to Kakeru right away, nervous about complicating things. Yet, Suwa encourages her to “tell him something” and Taka encourages her to share her feelings. And, a little bit later, she does admit her feelings for Kakeru, but they still don’t start dating. Kakeru says that he is okay if things stay how they are between them, and Naho, of course, doesn’t push back on that.

Sometimes it seems like Suwa is the most enthusiastic about Naho and Kakeru being together.

After Kakeru expresses a fear of hurting Naho and accepts the idea of friendship, Suwa and Naho walk home together. Suwa apologizes for not encouraging Kakeru to date Naho, admitting his letter said to give Naho and Kakeru “a push if you needed it” and that he “couldn’t do it.”

This conversation shows that Suwa is still struggling with supporting Kakeru and Naho, even if he is mostly supportive.

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The Letter: Naho’s New Problem in Orange

As past Naho’s reality changes, the letter becomes less and less accurate. For example, in this timeline, Kakeru passes out on the soccer field—a completely new event that future Naho did not experience. While this causes some nervousness for Naho and Suwa, Naho decides to rely less on the letter and trust her own knowledge of Kakeru, her instincts, and her friends.

Although I applaud her for realizing that she can rely on others and begins to let go of her unhealthy dependence on the letter, I still want to point out a concern here from a Christian discernment perspective.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) says:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

We aren’t supposed to rely on ourselves and our own understanding, since we are human and prone to mistakes. Instead, we are called to trust God, who is perfectly trustworthy and reliable. God never makes mistakes, and His Word is true and perfect.

*Please note that I am NOT saying Naho is a spiritual role model. She is a fictional character. Rather, I am pointing out points in the text that remind me of Biblical concepts, but I am not saying or suggesting that a manga is a spiritual guide.

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Teamwork in Orange Volume 3 *Spoiler Alert*

According to Naho’s letter, Kakeru will lead a relay, but twist his ankle and fall, which will negatively affect his mental state. The letter warns Naho not to let him run. However, although Kakeru wants to, he ends up giving his spot to Suwa. Suwa and Naho then question if they made the right decision.

They have a point. After all, the timeline is different, and Kakeru really seems to want to run.

So, instead of keeping him off the team, the entire gang volunteers to run with Kakeru, taking the places of the initial runners. This means that Kakeru, Suwa, Naho, Azu, Taka, and Hagita are all going to run together. Even though Naho has only told Suwa about her letter, the entire group is united and focused on helping Kakeru. It’s a beautiful example of teamwork.

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Suicide in Orange by Ichigo Takano *Spoiler Alert*

 Suicide is still a major concern, and Naho discovers that even before Kakeru’s death, he tries to commit suicide on another occasion—September 23rd in the original timeline, shortly after visiting some old friends. It’s supposedly not successful, but it reveals Kakeru’s inner struggles more clearly than before.

In order to save Kakeru, Naho and Suwa jump into action; Suwa convinces Kakeru not to visit his friends, and Naho admits that she likes Kakeru. Suwa reminds Kakeru that “Friends help each other through the good times and the bad!”

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A Huge Surprise: Concluding Orange Volume 3 *Major Spoiler Alert*

Okay, this might not actually be a surprise considering how conveniently helpful Naho’s friends are, but she and Suwa are not the only ones with letters.

Suwa encourages Naho to tell the others what’s been going on, and discovers that Azu, Hagita, and Taka all received letters, also.

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Conclusion: Why Orange Volume 3 is Worth Reading

At the end of Volume 3 of the Orange manga by Ichigo Takano, we have more hope than ever. As Naho’s alliance grows bigger, so does the hope of saving Kakeru.

The content is on par with the previous volumes, and the topics are also similar to topics addressed in previous volumes. I recommend Orange Volume 3 for teens and Christians to consider—with discernment.

If you’ve enjoyed the first two volumes of Orange, most likely you will enjoy the third installment as well.

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FAQs for Orange Volume 3

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Content Guide for Orange Volume 3 (Manga)

Language

• Dummy
• Idiot x2
• Shut up x7
• B*tch
• Ugly
• Crap
• Suck
• J*ez
• “These three weirdos.”
• Doofus

Sexual Content and Romance

• Naho takes a bath; it does not show anything graphic or explicit.
• Characters confess their feelings for each other.
• Characters use the word “cute” to describe a girl.
• A group of friends (guys and girls) hold hands.
• A character falls and her crush helps her; they touch hands.
• A guy holds his hand out to his crush.
• In the Afterward, someone says “shoot” and the author jokes about the someone thinking she has “a bench fetish” because the author takes photos of random things for her manga research.

Violence/Gore/Frightening and Intense Scenes

• A character slaps another.
• A character passes out on the soccer field.
• A character wears a Halloween mask that’s a bit creepy.

Spiritual

• Characters are shown in Halloween costumes in a bonus sketch.

Cover Photo Credit: Cover of Orange Volume 3 by Ichigo Takano. From Amazon.com, used under fair use for review and commentary. All rights belong to their respective copyright owners.