I’m way late here but I was browsing on note (well, attempting to a bit) and found an article on exactly this (3 volume complete manga series) that made me think of your request. There is a link at the end to an article on recommended 2 volume complete series as well
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Looking for a recommendation for manga, something similar to Ruri Dragon in level and subject if possible (the power developing side, not the school setting though not adverse to it if necessary).
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On the power developing side, it’s much darker (and involves a lot of fighting) but
And
Maybe グレイプニル | L22 too, although the character starts changed (but learns more about that over time). At least, this one is in the correct difficulty range 
I guess 魔法少年なつき×らびっツ | L23 kinda counts too? And it’s a lot cuter than all the other stuff.
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I’m actually tempted by this so that’s definitely going on the list. 
Parasite I’m not sure about, that could be too much for me and the bottom 2 I’m struggling to get a hold of but will keep them in mind.
Thanks 
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Kinda a joke, but also not a joke… can I interest you in 美少女戦士セーラームーン | L25?
If you’re open to the magical girl genre as “developing powers”, there are a few easier series that I can think of:
種村有菜 has a lot of series (and her art is like peak 90s RMC shojo 
). 神風怪盗ジャンヌ カラー版 | L23 is my favorite of hers, but I think the general consensus is that 満月をさがして | L24 is everyone else’s favorite.
And then I have to bring it up, everyone’s favorite(?) beginner series カードキャプターさくら | L20 and the new series カードキャプターさくら クリアカード編 | L18 (which I haven’t read but I imagine is more of the same ).
I have some deeper cuts, but if you’re trying to source physical books I’d probably stick to the big names, at least to start…
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The little girl is learning to control the powers she already has rather than developing new ones. There is an overarching plot but a lot of it is cozy slice of life scenes with a touch of magic. This one feels the most like Ruri of my two recommendations.
This character’s powers are actually new to her so there’s more development happening. It does also have more plot than Ruri since there are several other conflicts and a full fantasy world.
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I haven’t read Ruri Dragon, but maybe シャドーハウス | L23 would be a good fit for the power development stuff. I recommend the full color digital edition.
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no harm in asking. Never read it though I have seen a few episodes of the anime.
Was half expecting crystal hunters (which I already have ). I’ll check these out and see which I can find. Thanks
This was actually on my list originally but couldn’t find the 1st part. Think CD Japan has it on proxy so might try that. The other one I’m intrigued by so adding that to the list as well, Thanks 
That one sounds interesting too. Will try it out. Thanks
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Speaking of colored editions, the full color versions of sailor moon are GORGEOUS, but digital only and they’re only up to #4 I think (but of the 10 book version). If you’re willing to go in that direction I’d absolutely recommend them. It’s probably the prettiest digitally colored manga that I’ve seen.
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I read the 4th partially. It’s beautiful, and was very helpful for understanding what’s going on better. If they ever released them in print, I’d totally rebuy!
Speaking of… I still need to finish the remaining volumes one of these months
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I’m looking for something ‘set somewhere I’ve lived’ for the bingo board; candidates would be (roughly) west Germany, Nagano, west of Fukuoka (Meinohama area). Also maybe north Hokkaido (Wakkanai) and mid Okinawa (Ogimi Village) if we loosen the definition a bit. Preferably originally in Japanese.
If anyone has something off hand, that’d be a huge help. I’m honestly not quite sure how to search for something like that. I keep hoping it’ll just happen naturally sometime. 
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This manga is set in Düsseldorf, so in the west of Germany.
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The others seem a bit too unique/small to get big lists for easily, but the question of books set in Nagano has been asked and answered!
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Depending on the level of roughness 
I can recommend
which is set in Hamburg (at least the first two chapters - haven’t managed to read more ). The author used to live there, now she lives in Berlin. She won two awards with this book as per Amazon, and with another book she won the Akutagawa Prize, so you can expect excellent writing if that’s important for you.
Not Meinohama, but at least Hakata:
I loved the anime, and I’m loving this book/series even more! I read about half of the first volume so far, and I literally sat down with a map to see where everything took place, and I had been to some of the same locations 
We could even read together and compare 
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Thanks for the recs!
Ahh, I forgot to specify, sorry! I’m doing a no manga qualifier. 
I’ve heard of this manga though! Would you recommend it on its own merit?
Ooh nice. Some familiar names in there, too! Thanks 
That feels a bit too rough to me to use it for the bingo. Hamburg is pretty far north haha. 
I remember that book though! There was an internet bc for that iirc? I read the first chapter but that didn’t really catch me… But…
…sounds close enough? How far have you read?
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I found the anime adaption a bit slow and never finished it, but it’s generally regarded as one of the best manga of all time.
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Fair enough 
I checked and apparently I only read 17% (about 50 pages) so I guess I’d just start all over again. Are you planning to read it soon?
I also discovered that it had been nominated in the Light Novel book club way back when, and maybe some of those who voted for it are still interested in reading it? 
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I read volume #1 almost 20 years ago (in German). At the time volume #1 did not make me read the next volume, but iirc the story hadn’t really started yet.
Otoh, start of this year I wanted to read it for my bingo, before I also switched to a no manga plan, so I did want to give it a second chance, but haven’t yet re-started the series.
Edit: back then I needed six days for the manga, from which I‘d conclude I wasn’t really hooked. Compared to Sandland which took me just two days, or Spice and Wolf, which I read in one day, you can see where my preferences were in that time, and still might be.
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Pretty impressive for a manga I’ve never heard of 
(Tho someone did recommend the anime to me once, but I decided it was probably intense in a way I wasn’t in the mood for)
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I’m a bit surprised so many people commenting here haven’t heard of Monster; I thought it was fairly well-known and well-thought of. I haven’t read it personally @Belerith, but it is considered a classic in English manga circles, at least.
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