“A relative's child I hadn't seen in a while had grown up during the short time we were apart.” Many people may have had such an experience. Even though their face hasn't changed, their way of speaking and expressions have matured just a little, making you feel strangely deeply moved, thinking, “Time really has been passing by.” That exact feeling was the first thing I felt when reading Shou 3 Ashibe QQ Goma-chan. Nostalgic yet new. Changed yet unchanged. It brings a mysterious sense of reassurance, as if the world of that Shounen Ashibe has returned with time moving forward slowly.

In this story, Ashibe, Sugao-kun, and the others have become third graders. Some might think they have only advanced two school grades, but for elementary school students, a period of two years is surprisingly significant. They start thinking about things they didn't notice when they were in the first grade, and gradual changes begin to appear in their relationships with friends. However, what is interesting is that even though they have grown, their distinct personalities remain fully intact. Although they are stretching themselves a little, they still have plenty of childlike parts. That exquisite atmosphere is depicted very naturally. Rather than “characters who have grown up,” the phrase “characters through whom time has properly flowed” might fit better.

And what must not be forgotten is the presence of Goma-chan. Anyone familiar with the series probably thinks, “Ashibe is a given, but things really can't start without Goma-chan.” Just being a baby spotted seal makes him charming enough, but every single one of his actions is strangely full of lovability. Rather than just an animal, he is now a member of the family, a friend, and sometimes a presence that completely steals the spotlight. Even in quiet scenes, just having Goma-chan there creates a sensation as if the atmosphere softens a little. Moreover, the fact that he isn't doing it intentionally makes it all the more unfair.

Thinking back on it, the beginning of the Shounen Ashibe series was quite intense. In front of Ashibe, who was walking on the road, a white object falls from a truck. Ashibe then thinks it is a fish and takes it home, thinking “It might become dinner,” starting from an incredibly unrestrained idea. Reading it now, you can't help but laugh, thinking, “Wait, you're taking it home there?” However, that unexpected event becomes the encounter with Goma-chan, who would be deeply loved for a long time afterward. After Dad says, “It's not that we can't eat it, but wouldn't that be a pity?”, the flow of “Then let's keep it as a pet!” also has a momentum that is truly typical of Ashibe. It feels like this slightly forceful yet warm atmosphere connects to the charm of the entire work.

The Shounen Ashibe series is known as a gag manga, but as you read it, a charm that goes beyond simple laughter becomes visible. The small worries and daily lives of each character pile up, and a story properly flows for each of them. While having the good pacing like a four-panel comic strip, the lives of multiple characters also progress little by little at the same time. I find that way of crafting the story very interesting. Even though it depicts casual school life and interactions with friends, it mysteriously lingers in the readers' memories.

What I felt upon reading Shou 3 Ashibe QQ Goma-chan was not just the emotion of “nostalgia.” For people who have known the work since the old days, there is the joy of watching them grow, and for first-time readers, there is an accessibility that allows them to purely enjoy it as a daily comedy. Above all, this work has a strange sense of reassurance. No major incidents occur, nor is there a grand story to save the world. Even so, after closing the pages, your mind somehow becomes peaceful. The best charm of Shou 3 Ashibe QQ Goma-chan might be the way it doesn't just end with a laugh, but makes you think, “A daily life like this is nice, too.”