Sakura Quest – Volume 1 – Manga Review

The first chapter focuses on the heroine, Koharu Yoshino. During her childhood, she was made the ruler of a kingdom. After she recollect on of that event, she is on the train heading to Manoyama thinking it’s a one-day gig. She has interviewed for 20 jobs in Tokyo. However, none of them resulted in a job offer.

When she arrived, she saw a group of people welcoming her with confused looks. It appeared that they made a mistake since Yoshino’s name look familiar to the person they intended to pick. However, the person they wanted already passed away. Despite this, Yoshino went long with the gig.

After Yoshino went through the crowning ceremony, Shiori eventually shows Yoshino to her dorm. This is where she finds out from Maki that her gig is not a one-day affair, but a 1-year term. With that, she attempts to go back to Tokyo, but fails. The bus driver calls Kodota and he eventually calls Shiori, who is getting out of the shower relaying the message that Yoshino is attempting to escape. Shiori and Kodota tries to make Yoshino stay. Instead of Yoshino taking the sword and defeating Kodota as Chupakabura, she hits him with a bag, which sends him to the hospital.

In the end, Yoshino couldn’t get back into the dorm. With that, she decides to stay at the palace. This is where Yoshino finds out that she was there before during her childhood. She eventually sleeps at the throne while wearing the cape and the crown. When Yoshino came in the next day, she is happy that Yoshino decided to stay.

The second chapter focuses on the task Kodota assigned her. Kodota receives a shipment of 1000 boxes of Chupakabura Manju at the palace, which he ordered too much of. He makes Yoshino an offer to sell all the product within one week in order to have her contract voided. With that, she enlists help from Sanae, who worked on the website, Ririko for research, and Maki, who set up the stand.

Sadly, the girl’s efforts were fruitless, despite the video generating a lot of views. With Yoshino passing the deadline, she decides to open a box to try one out. After eating one, she finds them delicious. With that, the girls treat themselves to the sweet buns. Eventually, the girls decided to distribute them to the towns people.

In the third chapter, Yoshino is riding in a car with Shiori as Kodota drives like they are in a parade. They caused a ruckus in town, which causes Ririko’s grandmother, Chitose to become annoyed. After Yoshino finished an interview with someone from TV, it didn’t go well since she doesn’t know about Manoyama. Eventually, Yoshino went around town with Shiori to learn what needs to be changed in Manoyama. Of course, the town’s people want to keep the status quo.

Shiori and Yoshino returned to the dorm and they saw Sanae and Maki eating lunch. They were eating turnips, which is Manoyama’s specialty. Shiori eventually shows a picture of the old mascot, Turnip kid on her smart phone. She reveals that Chupakabura replaced him during the UMA craze.

The next day, Yoshino is participating in a mascot competition with Kodota. Kodota realizes that the mask for Chupakabura’s costume is missing. Shiori, Maki and Sanae tried to look for it, but their search was fruitless. Ririko eventually comes to help them and suggest using the turnip kid costume. Sanae eventually finds a video showing turnip kid making children cry in a hall. Either way, the girls managed to find the costume and brought it over.

Meanwhile, one of staff members found the mask at the garbage processing plant. Of course, Kodota is not going to wear it. Thankfully, the girls bought the Turnip kid’s costume on time. However, Kodota makes a big fuss about it. Eventually, he puts it on. Afterwards, Yoshino gives her speech saying that Manoyama didn’t care about either mascot. Afterwards, she makes a commitment to find the special thing in Manoyama with the help of the town’s people. After the event ended, the girls celebrated. Yoshino asks Kodota if she can have her new friends help her out with her work. Kodota accepts.

The Omake focuses on the girls trying out special turnip sushi, which is already split into four pieces.