Twin Spica 4

Will you ever forget when Japan's first manned space shuttle, the Lion, crashed in the Tokyo suburbs? It's a day that will permamently be in the hearts of thousands of people who witnessed the tragedy firsthand, and the many more who were directly impacted by the accident. But as in most cases, time will erode such memories. People and communities will often move on. And those who are left hurting, my build a resentment towards more than the crash itself.

Asumi is now in her second semester at the Tokyo Space School. After struggling to be accepted into this elite program and some hardships once she was admitted, she quickly found herself developing her skills and her character through the many trails the school administered. Despite her deminutive size, Asumi has a huge heart and equally powerful drive and she will not accept failure as an option.

So when she is confronted by protestors demonstrating against Japan's space program, she is torn by the memories of her past, which include her deceased mother, and the dreams she is working so hard to attain. One of the protesters is an old classmate of Asumi's. This young man knows the Asumi of the past. He knows the girl who everyone thought was different and lonely. This young man was at one point her rock and her only friend who not only shared her experiences but also was also her age in middle-school. And now, while he is also looking up to the stars, this person stares at them with contempt. Does he feel the same way about Asumi? Is she capable of not only dealing with her ties to the past but what about her future responisibility?

Volume: 04 contains four chapters of Twin Spica and three additional short stories set in the world of the property.
That Star Called Spica--Readers are treated to another short peek at Asumi's life before Twin Spica. This time we get to see her relationship with nerdy and slightly stubborn Fuchuya. The two have known each other for too long, and for some reason Asumi never seems to react to him.

Sentimental--In this latest flashback, we are introduced to a version of Lion long before his chance to go to space. He recalls a quick one-sided relationship, and the origins of his lucky harmonica. 

Another Spica--Another tale from his days working at an amusment park, Yaginuma remembers the inspiration for the character Lion.  The source is oddly enough from unexpected love letter.