Orange Manga Volume 5 Review

In this Orange manga Volume 5 review, we will explore the conclusion to Ichigo Takano’s Orange manga series from a Christian perspective. Contains a parent guide.

Synopsis of Orange Volume 5: The Conclusion to Takano Ichigo’s Manga Series

In the concluding volume of the Orange main series by Ichigo Takano, the date of Kakeru’s suicide looms. Everything that Naho and her friends have done means nothing if they cannot save Kakeru from the depression that consumes him.

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Manga Review of Orange Volume 5: The Emotional Conclusion to Ichigo Takano’s Manga Series

Orange Volume 5 is the final volume in the main Orange series, and it continues to follow Naho, Suwa, Kakeru, and their friends in a journey that permeates both the past and future.

In this review, we will explore Orange Volume 5 from a Christian perspective. Our entire review will contain spoilers, but we will add a warning in the heading before any major ones.

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A Note on the Version

My initial reading 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 fifth and final volume of the Orange main series.

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Orange Volume 5 Manga Review: The Big Fight Between Naho and Kakeru

The letter warns of an impending fight between Naho and Kakeru on New Year’s Eve. However, Naho’s friends confirm that they will be there for her, and though the stakes are high, it’s encouraging to know that Naho has backup. She can rely on her friends, and she doesn’t have to shoulder her burden alone.

The night of the impending fight, Naho and Kakeru talk deeply about what’s been going on in Kakeru’s life, and Naho tries to comfort him. Though her intentions are pure, her words offend him, and the fight still happens. Kakeru smacks her hand and tries to push her out of his life. This hurts Naho deeply.

Naho has spent so much time focused on saving and loving Kakeru, yet he chooses to throw it away. This moment reveals a huge difference between Kakeru and Naho: while Naho selflessly tries to make his life better, he emotionally (and physically) hurts her.

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Suwa’s Big Moment: Self-Sacrifice in Orange Volume 5 *Spoiler Alert*

In Orange Volume 4, we discover that, in the original timeline, Suwa comforts Naho after she and Kakeru fight. This is when Suwa confesses his feelings, ultimately securing their future together.

Past Suwa, however, does not intend to confess his feelings. His focus is solely on helping Kakeru and Naho end up together. This is painful considering what he’s giving up—his future, Naho’s future, and the future of his child.

He’s willing to give all this up for a future that his future self has decided is better for Naho even though, in the last volume, she admitted that she would have still married him even if Kakeru had survived.

Suwa’s choice to avoid the New Year’s Eve event risks drastically altering the timeline, a concern Hagita shares on a phone call with Suwa that night. He cautions against making too many changes because it could “take away someone else’s happiness.” Earlier, Taka asks him if he believes confessing to Naho will kill Kakeru, and reassures him that they will prevent his death. Azu also offers Suwa her support, leading Suwa to comment: “What’s up with you guys? Now you all have my back?”

Suwa has been shouldering his burden all alone. While everyone focuses on saving Kakeru and getting Kakeru and Naho together—Suwa included—Suwa’s feelings are relatively ignored.

Orange Volume 5 Review: A Christian Take on Suwa’s Sacrifice

As believers, we are called to put others above ourselves. Suwa does that consistently. However, the situation is more nuanced. Though technically, in this timeline, Naho and Suwa aren’t together and aren’t breaking a marriage covenant, future Naho and Suwa are in a covenant. Future Suwa encourages his past self to make different choices—choices that ensure he doesn’t end up with Naho.

This is complicated because, although future Suwa isn’t breaking his marriage covenant in his reality, he’s encouraging his past self to make different choices—choices that will affect not only him, but Naho and their future child, too.

Suwa—always supporting Naho, always protecting her, and always cherishing her, even if it means giving her up to another guy—still goes to comfort Naho after the fight.

However, instead of confessing his feelings, he promises to reunite her with Kakeru. He tells her, “Don’t be afraid of the future. Just keep moving forward. We have to…treasure our time with Kakeru.”

Suwa is a treasure. He puts everyone before himself, and although it’s painful to watch him let the woman he loves go, it shows how much love he truly has for others.

Naho tries to call Kakeru at Suwa’s behest, but Kakeru doesn’t answer. He actually purposefully breaks his phone, a moment that reveals how emotional he is and reveals another physical response to his pain.

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Naho’s Character Growth in Orange Volume 5

The Naho we met in Orange Volume 1 is vastly different from the Naho in Orange Volume 5. We’ve seen so much growth over the course of the manga. Naho has become more confident—she has started to stand up for herself against bullies and rely less on the letter. She has also learned the value of relying on others.

In Volume 5, just before the fight, Naho’s friends acknowledge Naho’s growth, admitting that “Slowly but surely, they’re changing.”

Naho’s growth is obvious not just to the readers, but to her friends, too.

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Kakeru’s Backstory Revealed: Orange Volume 5 Manga Review *Spoiler Alert*

After 4 entire manga volumes, we finally learn Kakeru’s backstory. Letter 19 (Chapter 19) occurs through Kakeru’s perspective. This perspective is from the original timeline—the one where Kakeru commits suicide.

Before moving to Naho’s area, Kakeru lived in Tokyo. He was bullied, and his “friends” let it happen. In the future (after he’s settled in at Naho’s school) he meets up with his Tokyo friends, who finally apologize for not standing up for Kakeru. Apologizing for our mistakes is so important, but unfortunately, their behavior proves problematic after their apology.

Kakeru tries to confide in them and share his struggles. Unfortunately, they don’t take him seriously—they actually laugh at him—and he makes a suicide attempt. This attempt is unsuccessful, but it reveals the inner burden he is facing—alone.

We also discover that Kakeru’s relationship with his mother was strained. She got divorced, decided to move, and threw out his precious cleats and soccer bag—all without giving him a say.

His resentment bubbled inside of him, and he decided to go back on a promise he made to her. The day he broke his promise was his first day at Naho’s school, and the day his mother commits suicide.

Later, things continue to happen that slowly depress him further, and shortly before his death, he discovers an unsent message from his mother explaining why she did the things he resented her for, and she apologizes.

This sends him over the edge, and he goes on his final bike ride.

Ultimately, only God can heal such brokenness. On our own, we cannot heal the pain of sin and loss.

Through this chapter, we also discover that Kakeru really did like Naho and learn why he acted the way he did. It doesn’t justify his choices—especially the physical abuse—but it does help us to understand why he did what he did.

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A Biblical Perspective on Death

During Kakeru’s final moments in the original timeline, he reflects on death. He considers whether or not his “sins will be atoned for” and if his “regrets will disappear” when he dies.

I want to take a moment to focus on the biblical perspective on death. Kakeru carries a heavy burden. His mistakes are crushing him, leading him to lose all hope.

Kakeru may be weighed down, but in real life, Christ gives us hope. Christ died to atone for our sins. He took on the weight of our sin so we don’t have to live in regret.

You and I have sinned, and our sins keep us separated from God. We cannot do enough good things in our lives to “make it to heaven” or earn forgiveness. We deserve death and a separation from God.

I try to live my life well, and I try to make good decisions, but I constantly fail. I make mistakes every single day.

However, God knows that. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take our place so that we can find forgiveness of our sins and be reunited with God. John 3:16 (ESV) says

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

We can go to heaven, not because of how “good” we are, but because Christ took on our sin. And get this, Christ CHOSE to lay down His life for us. He takes away the burden of our sin.

John 10:17-18 (NIV) says

 ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Kakeru wondered if he could find forgiveness and freedom from regret; he wasn’t sure if it was possible.

Christ does not just forgive the sins of the past. He also liberates you from the shame and guilt of your past. He takes away the thing that has limited your ability to live and develop which is your guilt and shame. (Source: Clarence L. Haynes Jr. from Bible Study Tools).

But, how do we know for sure that we are saved?

We can have confidence in our salvation, however, not because of what we do, but because of what Christ did for us.

Who will actually enter God’s kingdom? How can I guarantee that I’m going to heaven? The Bible distinguishes those who have eternal life from those who do not: “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). It all goes back to faith.

Those who believe in Christ are made the children of God (John 1:12). Those who accept Jesus’ sacrifice as the payment for their sins and who believe in His resurrection are going to heaven. Those who reject Christ are not. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18). (Source: GotQuestions, paragraphs broken up by me)

GotQuestions is a great resource to find Biblical answers to questions about faith, salvation, and Christianity, and I’m linking it here.

Believe in Christ and accept His forgiveness, and live in freedom from the bondage of sin. As John 8:36 (NIV) says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

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Mending Relationships in Orange

As previously mentioned, Naho and Kakeru have a fight, leading him to push her away. Naho tries to apologize, but he distances himself from her. We know that he’s dealing with a lot of regret, but Naho is trying her hardest and he’s pushing her away and isolating himself from the person who cares about him more than almost anyone else.

Eventually, they make up, and he opens up about what he’s going through. Naho calls Kakeru her “greatest treasure.”

There’s already a difference between the original timeline and this one. In the original timeline, Kakeru and Naho stay distant; in this timeline, they restore their relationship. There is hope for a better future.

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The Final Letter: A Conclusion to Orange *Spoiler Alert*

However, no story is finished without a climax. Everyone has been working hard to save Kakeru from committing suicide, and the moment of truth arrives. We have finally reached the last letter—the final moments that will decide Kakeru’s future.

The Day of the Accident *Spoiler*

The day of the accident, the gang pays extra attention to Kakeru. His relationship with Naho seems to be going well—she makes him a lunch again and it seems like they may have a romantic future together.

The time of the accident looms, and the gang has to figure out how to prevent it. They decide to go to the site of the accident to try to prevent it but he doesn’t show up—a chilling reminder that the timeline has changed.

However, Kakeru still finds the message from his mother—the one that caused him to commit suicide in the original timeline. The group tries to find him, and eventually he shows up on foot and walks in front of a truck.

…But he doesn’t die. He admits that he was suicidal, but in the end Kakeru “…realized…I didn’t want…to die yet.” He realizes that there would be so much he’d miss out on if he died, and was unable to go through with the suicide. The timeline did change, and the gang’s efforts were able to save him.

Kakeru’s Realization *Spoiler*

Kakeru finally understands how precious life is, and that it’s not worth throwing away. He went through so much pain and suffering, but now, he has hope for the future.

1 Peter 5:10 (ESV) is my favorite verse:

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

God doesn’t promise that our life will be easy or without trial or loss, but He does promise to be there for us. Romans 8:28 promises that “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” God restores us. He works all things for good for those who love Him.

One of my favorite lines from the final chapter comprehends how precious life is: “Can you ever forgive us? Back then, I was just a high school student, still a child who could not grasp the preciousness of each day nor the true weight of life.”

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FAQs for Orange Volume 5 by Ichigo Takano

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Final Thoughts on Orange Volume 5 Manga

After five volumes, Ichigo Takano’s Orange reaches its conclusion. We finally learn whether Naho is able to save Kakeru.

What’s next? Thankfully, there are two Orange sequels, and although the main series is concluded, Naho’s story isn’t over. There is also an anime adaptation of the main series, and a film called Orange: Mirai, which is painfully difficult to find online.

Orange leaves us with hope: we don’t have to live with our regrets, and we have the opportunity to move forward.

Let me leave you with a quote from Bible Study Tools:

You cannot have a vibrant, living, loving relationship with God or with anyone else for that matter, if you are holding on to the guilt and shame of your past. Jesus said in John 10:10 “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

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Content Guide for Orange Volume 5: Manga Review

Language in Orange Volume 5

• Lazy *ss
• Idiot x2
• D*mn
• Butt.
• “Meet by the freakishly tall guy.”
• “Quit screwing around.”
• P*ssed
• Blasphemous phrase.
• Sucks
• Heck
• Crap/Crappy
• Dummy
• Loser

Sexual Content & Romance in Orange Volume 5

• A male character borrows his female friend’s clothes, including her skirt.
• Characters admit/confess their feelings.
• A character admits a couple is cute.
• A guy and girl hold hands.
• A character (female) comments on her crush’s (male) body, calls him “slender” and liked how he looked with his shirt off.

Violence/Frightening and Intense Scenes in Orange Volume 5

•  A character smacks someone’s hand and tells them to leave them alone.
• A character, in an emotional state, throws and breaks their phone.

Spiritual Concerns in Orange Volume 5

• Characters visit a shrine.
• Characters receive fortunes that tell them how much luck they will have.
• A character prays at a home shrine, and another character prays.

Photo credit: Cover of Orange volume 5 by Ichigo Takano from Amazon used under fair use for review and commentary. All rights belong to their respective owners. Second photo created on Canva with an Orange quote. All rights retained by owners. Under fair use for review/commentary/education/criticism.