Twin Spica / ふたつのスピカ Japanese Numbering Series by Kou Yaginuma, 柳沼 行

In a Tokyo in the not too distant future a young girl studies deligently with ambitions of soon attending space academy.  If things work out just right, her future may very well be among the stars as well. And yet, every time she looks up to the stars there is a sense of melancholy in her heart. A sadness surrounds Asumi, as space exploration itself has profoundly impacted her life for as long as she can remember. But she is not alone...A young man wearing a lion's mask is always beside her... moreIn a Tokyo in the not too distant future a young girl studies deligently with ambitions of soon attending space academy.  If things work out just right, her future may very well be among the stars as well. And yet, every time she looks up to the stars there is a sense of melancholy in her heart. A sadness surrounds Asumi, as space exploration itself has profoundly impacted her life for as long as she can remember. But she is not alone...A young man wearing a lion's mask is always beside her. He speaks of the constellations and galaxies as if he they were like home. He knows what it is like to love the stars--slightly bitter and yet always so warm and inviting. Truth is he has gone through much of Asumi is just experiencing. And now in spirit he will forever be with Asumi guiding her on her path to space. less

Where were you when the first International Space Station was scrapped and dropped into Earth's atmosphere? It was Asumi's first day in space school, and she promised Lion she would not cry or be homesick as she will be leaving her quiet seaside town for the big city. Waiting for her in Tokyo will be a lot of work.  She is going to have to go through the rigors of space exploration training at the Tokyo Space School... moreWhere were you when the first International Space Station was scrapped and dropped into Earth's atmosphere? It was Asumi's first day in space school, and she promised Lion she would not cry or be homesick as she will be leaving her quiet seaside town for the big city. Waiting for her in Tokyo will be a lot of work.  She is going to have to go through the rigors of space exploration training at the Tokyo Space School.  After hours, Asumi will focus her efforts on homework, when not earning her tuition at the neighborhood Denny's.  It is not unccomon to run 20 laps around the campus each day.  Follow that up with physics and advance mathematics courses in the classroom.  Only to close the night by mapping out the constellations in the southern sky.  This is just what she expected the TSS to be, and yet why is it so hard to invision going to space someday?  With all of the work she and her classmates are efforting, why does space still feel so far away? less

Asumi is going through her growing pains right now.  She knew this new challenge would not be simple.  Mentally and, even with her petite frame, physcially she was prepared for almost anything the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) could throw at her.  Emotionally, however, she was light-years away from being able to even take more than a few attacks on her long suppressed past.  So when Asumi is at her lowest, a longtime friend, of the invisible sort, pays a visit... moreAsumi is going through her growing pains right now.  She knew this new challenge would not be simple.  Mentally and, even with her petite frame, physcially she was prepared for almost anything the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) could throw at her.  Emotionally, however, she was light-years away from being able to even take more than a few attacks on her long suppressed past.  So when Asumi is at her lowest, a longtime friend, of the invisible sort, pays a visit. As he is grappling with his own past, she realizes that there is no way she cannot move forward.  Nothing here can keep her from taking off! less

Asumi is now in her second term at the Tokyo Space School. After struggling to be accepted into this elite program and some hardships once she was admitted, she quickly found herself developing her skills and her character through the many trials the school administered. Despite her diminutive size, Asumi has a huge heart and equally powerful drive and she will not accept failure as an option... moreAsumi is now in her second term at the Tokyo Space School. After struggling to be accepted into this elite program and some hardships once she was admitted, she quickly found herself developing her skills and her character through the many trials the school administered. Despite her diminutive size, Asumi has a huge heart and equally powerful drive and she will not accept failure as an option. So when she is confronted by protesters demonstrating against Japan's space program, she is torn by the memories of her past, which include her deceased mother, and the dreams she is working so hard to attain. less

Time is flying by at the Toyko Space School and Asumi is now heading into her second of three years at the elite aeronautics academy. However, while this new transition should bring with it excitement and new challenges, Asumi has her heart and mind somewhere else. She cannot forget her old classmate. The accident took many lives and hurt countless of others. Many people have moved away, move on or have tried to forget the tragedy... moreTime is flying by at the Toyko Space School and Asumi is now heading into her second of three years at the elite aeronautics academy. However, while this new transition should bring with it excitement and new challenges, Asumi has her heart and mind somewhere else. She cannot forget her old classmate. The accident took many lives and hurt countless of others. Many people have moved away, move on or have tried to forget the tragedy. But for some young people there is no chance to forget or forgive. less

Asumi's latest and most challenging flight simulation trial continues.  She along with her classmates have been put into small escape pods, the actual pods that the International Space Station currently uses, to simulate traveling through space and an atmosphere re-entry... moreAsumi's latest and most challenging flight simulation trial continues.  She along with her classmates have been put into small escape pods, the actual pods that the International Space Station currently uses, to simulate traveling through space and an atmosphere re-entry.  The pods are then covered and transported into the Japanese wilderness where after some rough handling and a designated allotment of time the pods automatically open up leaving the students disorientated and desperate to find civilization. less

Asumi and her friends have been granted some well deserved time off. And as the gang begins to realize how close they have become over the past year, they decide together to head off to the home of two prime members of this now tight star-gazing circle--Yuigahama. Back in the home town of Asumi and Fuchuuya the gang slowly get to learn more about the Lion Disaster and the sad tale of the Kamokawa's... moreAsumi and her friends have been granted some well deserved time off. And as the gang begins to realize how close they have become over the past year, they decide together to head off to the home of two prime members of this now tight star-gazing circle--Yuigahama. Back in the home town of Asumi and Fuchuuya the gang slowly get to learn more about the Lion Disaster and the sad tale of the Kamokawa's. The girls gets to experience the star-filled room Asumi grew up in; where she got to intimately live among the constellations. They spend time with the Fuchuuya family fireworks store as they prepare to close out the summer with a bang. And somehow along the way these friends find a way to melt the ice that had formed around ice-queen Marika's heart, revealing a secret that no one in the galaxy was prepared for. less

The astronaut selection test is around the corner and one member of the TSS's first class is quietly preparing for this challenge. This student has plenty to prove, but to do so without the aide of family or friends might be even more difficult. The exam will send one of these friends to America. Will it be worth the heartache?

In the ninth volume of Twin Spica, Asumi and her classmates are getting closer and closer towards graduation, and changes in store for this group of friends. There will be good-byes to be said and that might end up causing some tension within this group. Some of that friction might be spurred on from outside of the Tokyo Space School as the media has caught on to the identities of at least one prime candidate.

In the tenth volume of Kou Yaginuma’s Twin Spica an astronaut will be selected and the choice may not be so obvious. And while this future space traveler has shown plenty of potential and talent it is clear they couldn’t have made it without some help. Though the mystery is whose help, and will this person last without that support.

With only months left in their training, Asumi and those left in the Tokyo Space School’s first astronaut training class have a new and potentially defining task at hand. From the moment they enrolled, these teens were under the assumption that the future of space exploration would be at the hands of their generation. At least one of them would lead JAXA into the cosmos to revitalize a once dead program... moreWith only months left in their training, Asumi and those left in the Tokyo Space School’s first astronaut training class have a new and potentially defining task at hand. From the moment they enrolled, these teens were under the assumption that the future of space exploration would be at the hands of their generation. At least one of them would lead JAXA into the cosmos to revitalize a once dead program. But in the nearly three years they have spent training their bodies and minds, science appears to have caught up to them. less

Asumi and her classmates are getting closer and closer towards graduation, and changes in store for this group of friends. There will be good-byes to be said and that might end up causing some tension within this group. Some of that friction might be spurred on from outside of the Tokyo Space School as the media has caught on to the identities of at least one prime candidate.

An astronaut will be selected and the choice may not be so obvious. And while this future space traveler has shown plenty of potential and talent it is clear they couldn’t have made it without some help. Though the mystery is whose help, and will this person last without that support.

Tragedy strikes the TSS. It was not long since the first class of the astronaut course got to experience great pride when one of their best was selected to join NASA. With those feelings still fresh the academy is then shaken to its core and one member may not be able to return to her duties now that her guiding light has faded.

In this penultimate installment, graduation looms for what is left of the Tokyo Space School's first class. As the teens focus on their final days in school, many of them take the opportunity to finally share some long hidden feelings and settle a few differences.

In this final installment, graduation looms for what is left of the Tokyo Space School's first class. Finally, Japan's first student astronaut is selected! Will Asumi finally be able to drive the rocket of her childhood dreams?