Tohru continues living with the Sohmas and meets Momiji and Hatori, two more members of the zodiac. Flashbacks offer some serious development for Hatori, the supposedly cold doctor for the Sohma family. The difficulties of love with the curse are well-explored, giving the plot a depth that the previous volume lacked. Though a little cliche at times, this second volume is much stronger than the previous one. The timeline is also more precisely defined now (Tohru has lived there for four months). 
 Suspension of disbelief becomes difficult at times; Momiji hugs Tohru during a school festival. Even though classmates question his disappearance, luckily their obsession with Yuki in women's clothing distracts them from questioning too closely. Not one hundred percent sure I can buy that - doesn't anyone have a boyfriend? Or a crush on someone other than Yuki? Tohru's ever-optimistic attitude is on one hand endearing; I wish the narrative hadn't focused on Hana-chan convincing Yuki and Kyo to go home for New Years and been told instead from Tohru's POV as she tried to convince herself that she'd be okay for New Years alone (then it could switch to Hana-chan and co.). I'm not sure why the story would deliberately avoid a scene that complicated Tohru's otherwise freakishly-happy personality. Hm. Hopefully future volumes will allow her to grow and further complicate her character.