A new school term, a new uniform, and new encounters—. Spring is always filled with the premonition that something is about to begin. In such a spring, Mei Wakaba, having become a first-year junior high student, felt a bit out of place in the shadow of the “excellence” established by her older brother and sister. People around her always talked only about her siblings. However, a fateful moment arrived for Mei during a casual visit to observe the volleyball club. There was the senior, Akira Yoshitaka, playing radiantly in the gym. He called her by her name, “Mei Wakaba,” rather than just “the younger sister”—that single word blew into Mei's heart like a spring breeze. This encounter set her youth in motion, leading her to join the volleyball club and toward her first love.

“Kakete Harukaze” is not just a club-themed youth manga. The emotional fluctuations depicted from Mei's perspective will blow a somewhat nostalgic breeze through the reader's heart. Many readers will surely empathize with the joy of having their name called and the happiness of finally being truly acknowledged as an individual. This is a story of “re-encountering oneself” rather than just the beginning of “love.” As Mei gradually closes the distance between herself and Yoshitaka-senpai, she takes pride in her name and begins to walk forward believing in her own feelings. The tapestry of youth, depicted alongside the dynamism of volleyball, is straightforward and leaves a refreshing aftertaste in the reader's heart.

What makes this work special is that it depicts the process of finding one's own sense of existence, not just “heart-throbbing” moments. By meeting someone, a person can clearly define their own silhouette. For Mei, Yoshitaka-senpai was that kind of presence. Longing for love, having her name called, and then starting to run—the fact that every single step looks sparkling shouldn't be attributed solely to the season of spring. “Kakete Harukaze” is a gentle yet powerful story that reminds us of “those days.”