Rascal Does Not Dream Of Logical Witch - light novel

   Rascal Does Not Dream Of Logical Witch (青春ブタ野郎はロジカルウィッチの夢を見ない) is a the third volume of the Rascal Does Not Dream light novels written by Kamoshida Hajime featuring artwork by Mizogushi Keeji.  The third volume was originally release in 2015 and in English in 2020.

     The following synopsis may spoil some aspects of the first and second novels in the Rascal Does Not Dream series, if you do not want to ruin those stories stop reading until you have.

 Book Two: Rascal Does Not Dream Of A Petite Devil Kohai review here!

    The sudden appearance a younger version of Sakuta's first love, Makinohara Shoko, causes unease for Mai, who has finally agreed to date Sakuta.  It also brings concern and confusion to Sakuta due to the Shouko he knew should be 19.  The summer break also means less time for Sakuta to spend with Mai, as her revived career is keeping her away from him more and more.  But, an absent love life and a apparent younger doppelgänger of his first love are only the tip of his summer break problems.  Things become incredibly complicated when he learns that his friend, quiet science nerd Futaba Rio is in two places at the same time.  Rio has been a source of understanding and reality for Sakuta as he worked to overcome both Mai and Tomoe's supernatural 'adolescent syndrome' problems.  Always trying to ground him in reality and compare the problems with theories based in science.  But how much can she help him when it appears it's her turn to face 'adolescent syndrome'?  

    Rio struggles with being isolated from her peers and her unrequited love for the third person in their friend group, Kunimi Yuuma.  Sakuta is fully aware of her feelings and he pesters her about it regularly.  There is also good reason to believe that Yuuma is also aware of her feelings.  Rio also suspects that Yuuma knows, but is unwilling to confront it herself.  Yuuma is a generally agreeable and easy going person, well loved and admired.  His girlfriend, spiky, popularity driven Kamisato Saki tries constantly to force Sakuta to stop being friends with him.  Between Yuuma having a girlfriend and Rio being generally socially inept, she begins to silently cry out for attention in a dangerous way.  Soon enough a second version of her comes into being, a version that has more of Rio's ambition and boldness.  Yet, even this version can only sit on the sidelines and observe the object of her affection.  How will Sakuta solve this problem of parallel existence, fearing catastrophe if both versions interact with each other.  Will Rio's loneliness and social isolation lead her to more dangerous behavior that could put both versions in jeopardy?  And to top all of that off, Mai's management is pressuring her to be significantly more discreet with her sudden relationship with Sakuta.  Will he ever have the high school romance he so desires with this young celebrity?

    At the end of the second book we are introduced to the mysterious girl sharing the same name as the older girl Sakuta fell in love with while in the hospital, Makinohara Shouko.  You would be excused if you thought this plot line would deal with her and some form of 'adolescent syndrome' but surprise, it's really a story about Futaba Rio!  We do get quite a bit of time with the child Shouko, including some particularly important details at the back half of the story.  But the time we get to spend with Rio is what makes this book special.  Prior to her being the victim of 'adolescent syndrome' she has always been the voice of skepticism for Sakuta.  She is a creature of logic and understanding that refuses to casually accept fantastical explanations for unknown events.  Instead she always presents a physics theorem as a parallel to what Sakuta is trying to correct.  But all we know about her is that she is one of his only friends, is quiet, detached from the student body and secretly in love with Yuuma.  As a central character we begin to see her personality more as well as learning more about her history and home life.

    This is a more emotional story than they other two, between Rio's primary plot about unrequited love and self hatred and glimpses into the young Shouko, the emotions start to pile up.  Unfortunately we also see a further slide in the love life of Mai and Sakuta.  They did finally, officially become a couple, but her new manager is concerned about Mai being open about it.  Fearing it could cause an irreversible backlash to her efforts at rebuilding her career.  Its frustrating to see yet another backslide in that narrative, but lets be honest, that is the core story.  Everything else is just well crafted drama to expand out times with the characters.  I enjoyed this story more than the second book, less for the mystery which did take a back seat again, but for the expansion of the characters in general.  Yet again we see an introduction of a new person in Sakuta's life, what could that mean for the next book?  Which ever way it goes, how much will it impact Sakuta's love life?

 Book Four:  Rascal Does Not Dream Of Siscon Idol review here!