Reading Real Volume 5 feels a bit like just waking up. Almost everyone in the book is seeing something in a new light and making new friends, despite their ongoing struggles. They also do things that would be hard for anyone, but in Japanese culture border on the extraordinary.
Tomomi, the thuggish guy that somehow ended up in a giant monster suit last time around, has obtained his driver’s license. To Americans this may not seem like a big deal, but in Japan the process of getting your license can cost upwards of $2,000 to $3,000. License in hand, Tomomi makes his first trip the hardest one he could possibly make. Instead of running away from his shame and avoiding it, the former punk feeds his good fortune and determination into a trip to see Natsumi, the girl he hurt in an accident at the beginning of the story. Tomomi is determined to heal the wounds he feels responsible for. To that end he continues visiting her and having hard conversations, even if she doesn't want to see him again.
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