Card Captor Sakura

French edition published by Pika Édition, written and illustrated by the CLAMP collective.

The number of cards still at large keeps shrinking, and with it grows a diffuse tension: Sakura senses she's nearing a turning point, without knowing exactly what it is. This volume is full of moments of doubt for the heroine, torn between wanting to enjoy her childhood and the growing weight of her mission.

Yukito takes on an increasingly central role, and the scenes where Sakura clumsily tries to express her feelings to him are among the most touching in the series. Meanwhile, increasingly clear signs suggest that a decisive event — a judgment, an ultimate trial — is coming to determine who is worthy of keeping the cards' power.

Kerberos himself grows more serious than usual, hinting that the most perilous part of Sakura's journey is still to come. This sense of restrained anticipation makes this volume a hinge between the carefree beginnings and the gravity of the chapters ahead.