It’s over. After years of watching Uka Ishimori crawl out of her shell and Kai Miura—the boy who literally looks like a refreshing glass of lemon soda—soften his sharp edges, the Honey Lemon Soda ending has officially arrived. If you’ve been following Mayu Murata’s behemoth of a shoujo series in Ribon magazine, you know this wasn't just another high school romance. It was a marathon of emotional growth. But when a series runs for over 20 volumes, the landing is almost never soft. Some fans are cheering, while others feel like the fizz went out of the drink a little too early.
Honestly, it’s rare for a shoujo manga to maintain this kind of momentum. Usually, once the main couple gets together, the plot drags or relies on annoying misunderstandings to keep the gears turning. Murata-sensei avoided that for a long time by focusing on Uka’s personal evolution from a "stone" to a girl who can actually stand on her own two feet. But how do you wrap up a story that has become a staple of modern romance manga?
The honey lemon soda ending didn't just give us a "they lived happily ever after" montage. It tried to circle back to the very first chapter, emphasizing that while Kai was the catalyst, Uka was the one who did the heavy lifting for her own life.
What Actually Happens in the Final Chapters?
The climax of the series doesn't revolve around a breakup or a dramatic rival appearing out of nowhere. Instead, it’s about the future. For a long time, the tension was built on the "What happens after graduation?" trope. Kai, with his complex family background and his tendency to push people away to protect them, finally had to reconcile his feelings for Uka with his own career path.
In the final arc, we see the characters navigating the transition to university and adulthood. The honey lemon soda ending emphasizes the concept of "sparkling" even when things aren't perfect. We get a glimpse into their lives as they move forward, proving that their relationship wasn't just a high school phase. It’s a grounded conclusion. Uka has transformed. She isn't the terrified girl from middle school anymore. She’s confident. She’s radiant.
It's kinda beautiful, really. The final panels mirror the beginning, but with the roles slightly shifted. Kai is still that cool, refreshing presence, but Uka is now the one providing the warmth.
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The Graduation Hurdle
Graduation is the death knell for many shoujo series. Most creators just end it at the ceremony. Honey Lemon Soda went a bit further. It dealt with the anxiety of separation. You've got these two people who are so deeply intertwined, yet they are distinct individuals with different goals.
The manga makes a point to show that Kai’s "soda" personality—that sharp, stinging, yet sweet vibe—was a defense mechanism. By the end, he’s more transparent. He’s vulnerable with Uka in a way he never was with his peers at the start of the story.
Why Some Fans Feel Underwhelmed
Not everyone is throwing confetti. If you spend 80+ chapters building up a romance, expectations are sky-high. Some readers felt the final chapters were rushed. The pacing of the "Adult Era" or the post-high school glimpses felt a bit condensed compared to the leisurely pace of the second year of high school.
There's also the "side character" problem. Throughout the series, we grew to love the supporting cast. In the honey lemon soda ending, some of these arcs felt like they were tied off with a quick bow rather than the deep exploration they deserved. What about Satoru? What about the specific dynamics of their friend group? While we get answers, they aren't as meaty as the Uka-Kai focus.
Then there's the "realism" factor. Shoujo manga often drifts into fantasy territory regarding how easy it is to maintain a first love through the chaos of twenty-something life. Murata keeps it sweet, which is what the magazine Ribon is known for, but some older readers were hoping for a bit more grit in the final transition.
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Comparing the Manga to the Live Action
If you only watched the 2021 live-action film starring Raul (from Snow Man) and Ai Yoshikawa, you’ve got a very different version of the honey lemon soda ending in your head. The movie, by necessity, trims about 90% of the development. It focuses on the core "girl meets boy, boy changes girl's world" narrative.
- The movie ends on a high note of high school acceptance.
- The manga goes much deeper into the trauma Uka faced.
- The "Soda" metaphor is used more visually in the film, but more philosophically in the manga.
In the manga, the ending is a culmination of a decade of serialized storytelling. In the movie, it's a 115-minute emotional arc. If you felt the movie ending was abrupt, the manga is the antidote. It provides the "why" behind every smile and every tear.
The Symbolism of the Final Volume
Mayu Murata loves her metaphors. The yellow and blue color schemes are everywhere. Even in the final chapters, the imagery of "dissolving" and "bubbling up" persists.
The honey lemon soda ending is ultimately about the "aftertaste." You know how when you drink a soda, the initial sting is the best part, but the sweetness lingers? That’s what Uka and Kai’s relationship represents. The initial sting was their growth and the friction of their personalities. The ending is the lingering sweetness of a stable, mature relationship.
It’s about the fact that Uka found her own "lemon." She found her zest.
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Lessons From Uka’s Journey
We can actually learn a lot from how this story wrapped up. It wasn't just about a girl getting a boyfriend. It was a manual on overcoming social anxiety.
- Self-Reliance First: Uka only became truly happy when she stopped relying on Kai to "save" her from bullies or her own silence.
- The Power of Environment: Changing schools was the catalyst, but changing her internal monologue was the victory.
- Healthy Boundaries: The ending shows a couple that supports each other's dreams rather than one person sacrificing everything for the other.
People often dismiss shoujo as "fluff." Honey Lemon Soda is fluff, sure, but it’s high-quality fluff with a backbone. The ending reinforces that your "sparkle" is your own responsibility.
Final Thoughts on the Legacy of the Series
When we look back at the honey lemon soda ending, it will likely be remembered as the benchmark for the "Reiwa Era" of shoujo. It moved away from the toxic "bad boy" tropes of the 90s and 2000s. Kai was never abusive; he was just guarded. Uka was never a "doormat"; she was just healing.
The series ends on a note of profound optimism. It tells the reader that no matter how much of a "stone" you feel like right now, you can eventually become something that shines. Or something that fizzes.
If you’ve finished the manga and feel a void, the best thing to do is revisit the early chapters. Seeing the staggering difference between the Uka of Chapter 1 and the Uka of the final chapter is where the true value of the honey lemon soda ending lies. The growth is astronomical. It’s a testament to long-form storytelling.
Next Steps for Fans
- Read the Extra Chapters: Often, Ribon releases "Special Editions" or "Side Stories" in the months following a series finale. These usually cover the side characters who didn't get enough screen time in the main finale.
- Check Out the Artbooks: Mayu Murata’s art style evolved significantly over the run. The final volumes feature some of the most intricate fashion and character designs in the industry.
- Explore Similar Titles: If you miss the vibe, look into A Sign of Affection (Yubisaki to Renren) or Pink to Haba for similar vibes of emotional growth and stunning art.
The story of Uka and Kai is a closed book now, but the impact it had on the shoujo landscape is just beginning to be measured. It taught a generation of readers that it's okay to be shy, as long as you eventually find your voice. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of soda can help you find it.