By 
For the first few volumes of the Rock is a Lady’s Modesty manga, Hiroshi Fukuda is building up to something. Lilisa Suzunomiya and Otoha Kurogane meet, realize their true natures, and decide play together. Their classmate Tina Isemi realizes she’s able to be her true self around them and joins them. Tamaki “Shiro” Shiraya shows up and wants to play bass with Otoha again, but the rival band Bitter Ganache wants her as her guitarist. But now volume 3 is completely dedicated to the obstacle in the way of Lilisa, Otoha, Tina, and Shiro getting to form a band together, and it’s so satisfying for so many reasons.
Editor’s Note: There will be no spoilers for the outcome of the “battle” between the Oshin academy students and Shiro’s band and Bitter Ganache in the Rock is a Lady’s Modesty manga below.
Basically, the whole of the third volume of Rock is a Lady’s Modesty is dedicated to the showdown between Blanc de Noir Plus Alpha, which is Lilisa, Otoha, Tina, and Shiro’s band, and Aki’s group Bitter Ganache. Seven chapters dedicated to that seems like a lot, but it makes sense. Part of it is set-up for the performance itself, complete with Aki taunting Shiro and costume reveals. A brief part of it involves seeing the reaction of the crowd to Bitter Ganache and Shiro offering insight into them. Finally, the bulk of it is dedicated to the performance and aftermath itself.
That seems like a lot of time devoted to a group playing their first song! Hiroshi Fukuda gives it the Dragon Ball Z battle treatment. But the thing is, it moves at a pace that makes sense. We’re not seeing one quick take and performance. We’re getting insight into how different characters are responding to their first live performance as a group in a situation where the stakes are very high.
They’ve never all performed before. If they lose to Bitter Ganache, Shiro is forced to drop the bass and become the rival group’s guitarist. Tina’s an amateur musician who’s only just learned the keyboards. Lilisa has concerns about people comparing her guitar performance to Shiro’s. Plus, they’re performing an instrumental song in a battle of the bands kind of contest where their immediate competition did have a lead singer, Aki. The execution means we’re seeing detailed looks at what’s happening and get firsthand insight into the mindset of different characters.
Also, it’s a lot of fanservice. Rock is a Lady’s Modesty does that in different ways. Here, there are the yuri relationship teases again, with the Lilisa and Otoha dynamic at the forefront again. The costumes for some of the characters for this performance are 110% that as well. When they get into it, they also have the unbridled enthusiasm and manic energy the performances is known for both in the manga and anime.
Volume 3 of the Rock is a Lady’s Modesty manga puts Lilisa, Otoha, Tina, and Shiro’s band at the forefront. We see exactly what the four of them can do after working hard together. It also gives us a chance to see some initial reactions to them, while setting up a conclusion for their first real challenge. And, while the whole of this book is dedicated to that one event, it doesn’t feel like overkill.
Rock is a Lady’s Modesty volumes 1-3 are available via Yen Press, and there’s no release window for the fourth volume of the manga yet. The anime is streaming on HIDIVE.
We may earn a commission if you purchase from certain links. Learn more here.
