Stepping on Roses #9

Rinko Ueda's shojo romance reaches its ninth volume with a cover portrait that says it all — a warm-eyed young woman with auburn hair and a sharp, elegantly dressed young man share an intimate, tension-filled closeness, framed by scattered roses and golden accents. The delicate artwork perfectly captures the push-and-pull charm that has kept readers invested in this series. If you've been following along, this installment looks poised to keep the emotional stakes beautifully high.