I didn't think the series would "fall off," but I had hoped it would be just as amazing as volume one, and it was! I loved every single moment and had to laugh at Risa's many expressions, but I also wanted to hug her! You can definitely see how she's grown a little bit, especially by the end, and how straightforward she was, but she's still struggling to go outside of her "usual."
In fact, I think the conversation she has with someone about not recognizing herself really brought to light just how deep her struggles go. We've seen moments before that where she regrets how she said something or what she said when that's not what she meant, but that conversation revealed that she IS changing. I would even say in a good way because she's smiling more and seems to be having fun!
Though Zen brought some MAJOR swoon this volume!! Yes, he brought some fun, but the cuteness and swoon were very much real! And the ending with what HE said!! EEEEEPPPP! I absolutely loved it all so so so much!
I had been waiting to read more of this series physically despite owning it digitally, but I think I may just cave and "read ahead" in the meantime because I can't get enough of these cuties!
They are sooo cute together. I absolutely love the healthy dynamic between them. Zen is just the greenest flag and Risa is starting to rely on him more. I also like it that Risa is this a little awkward girl while Zen is this 'bad boy' typa guy. It's a refreshing story.
I do have mixed feelings about the older guy... And Zen with the motorbike is just hot. It adds to the character :)
After finishing the first volume yesterday, I immediately had to read volume two today and again it was over way too quickly and I just wanted more, because these characters are so so adorable!!! I love it! Gimme more~
Zen (no, his motorcycle does not yet need artful maintenance) was on the receiving end of a kiss from Risa and that means… reversal of status quo? Eh, not so much, but when these opposites attract are they likely to meet in the middle or pass each other in different directions?
Okay, that’s not likely, fair enough. But the ongoing delight of the last volume continues apace, at least, making this one rather excellent story. And part of that is because it takes a tried and true premise - ‘good girl and bad boy’ and decides to do something with it.
It doesn’t hurt that Zen and Risa have amazing chemistry together. Whenever this goes a little formulaic, they’re there to just put it right back on course. And it’s still dead funny - I’m going to boldly proclaim that this volume has one of my favourite poop jokes ever. And the revelation (and reaction to the revelation) of Zen’s house is pure Fujimomo.
What if people were stereotypes but then we fleshed them out? Do they have hidden sides? Almost always. Shojo as a genre gets this to various degrees of success, but the way it’s working in this book is kind of wonderful (potatoes of all things). And it trusts the reader in a way I seriously appreciate.
Turns out Risa does have one thing she can’t handle and when she decides to reach out (and then regrets it), you can see what’s happening, but the story never really directly comments on it. If this was most any other story it would have writ large what Zen is up to, but this story knows you know.
Yeah, sometimes we stick to the formula. Zen decides to start studying because he doesn’t want to be behind Risa, one of his crew really doesn’t like her, all that sort of jazz. It’s still fun, though, because the characters remain engaging.
Zen’s buddies are done in broad strokes, but the mileage Fujimomo gets from them this volume is impressive. And there are worse avenues to pursue with Zen than him wanting to better himself but finding himself rather alone amidst his friends in that regard (at first anyway)
After a life lived rigidly alone and prepared for anything, what happens when you come up against something you couldn’t predict? Does your inflexibility bend or break? The end of this volume tantalizes that Risa could be going either way and I’m excited to se what it amounts to.
That’s the secret to the success of this title with me - it adheres to formula, there’s a Dreaded Manga Cold this very volume, but it not only does more with it (the door slam is brilliant) but sometimes just up and decides to do something else instead.
The brief moment at the close of this volume could actually mean something because we are in a series that hasn’t always played it safe. Yeah, I do think it will in the end, but even the suggestion it might not feels much more realized here.
Risa and Zen both offer something to one another and Risa knows she’s absolutely crazy for him but her acting on it comes out in fits and spurts because she doesn’t know how to be honest about what she needs. Zen just appreciates her, but has to reconcile his dwindling bad boy nature at the same time.
Given the status of their relationship by the time we wrap up, I am pretty sure that we’re in very good hands going forward. I really, really want more of Zen’s sisters, however, who make a brilliant cameo for all of two panels.
5 stars - this is a wonderful romance with some nice heat behind it, plus great dialogue, complicated characters, and some super strong comedy. I was absolutely right the first time - this is better than Lovesick Ellie ever got, and it’s leagues better than many contemporaries.
I love this series to pieces - it's so much more solid than Fujimono's previous work. But every single time the translation has Zen or one of his friends say, "Ayyy," all I can hear is the Fonz.
NON MAIS PARDON CE BANGER ? 🧎🏻♀️ mes mimiiis, c’est tellement excellent de voir une protagoniste froide qui est habitué à repousser les sentiments, essayer de s’ouvrir, mais galérer et lui qui la laisse prendre son temps, mais OMG 😭😭😭
This is the single most sweetness causing manga I have ever read. It’s so cute and fluffy that I couldn’t help but smile at each page.
This volume was all about the growth in Risa and Zen’s relationship. I loved how we learned about the characters a little more. Zen keeps setting the standard higher. Not only does he trust Risa unconditionally but he’s started doing his best so he can be there for her at every stage. I also like how he understands Risa and knows her even when she’s not good at putting her emotions into words. Zen is currently my top favorite male lead.
Risa likewise has been doing her best by trusting and believing in Zen. She’s not great at communicating but it works since she’s expressive and Zen can read her like an open book. There is no misunderstanding and Risa also cares about Zen’s friends in her own way. I love how she’s enjoying herself more and looking at more than just her studies. Yes, studying is important but sometimes you have to briefly put it aside to enjoy the things around you, because you only get to be a teenager once.
There really isn’t a plot in this volume except maybe Risa getting approval from Zen’s friends. It’s really a wholesome volume and sadly the precap for the next volume anticipates drama with Fumiya in the picture. I’m not looking forward to it at all. I like the current story with two individuals, a delinquent and a diligent student learning about each other; doing their best for each other; and having fluffy moments together; while introducing their sides of the world. I don’t want a third person to ruin it.
The artwork is beautiful as always. The author knows how to paint comedic and gentle expressions, relay emotions through body language and create the mood using scenic backgrounds and iconography. The artwork itself is mesmerizing and I love it a lot!
Overall this was an enjoyable read. I absolutely loved this volume and although I’m looking forward to the next volume I’m also scared. Please someone spoil it and tell me Fumiya won’t create any unnecessary drama and that there’s no angst.
Lovely and perfect chaotic couple. The pace is so fast, i'm wondering what's will transpire with the rest of volume.
Zen is smooth like butter, and this is totally his face when he teased her (😏) and this ( :3 ) when he want to spoiled her but she refuses because she is quite serious and tsundere haha
Also the storyline, hmm..not the usual manga story and setting, i enjoyed this 😍
Repleto de dulzura y cuquidad, Fujimomo nos trae un segundo tomo de "Más allá del amor" donde nuestros protagonistas seguirán desarrollando su propio crecimiento personal a la par que el de su relación
4.5 stars Dieser zweite Band war auch wieder richtig toll. Man merkt, dass Rise zen sehr viel bedeutet und er sich daher für sie ein wenig verändern will - angefangen mit seinen Noten. Seine Freunde bemerken diese Veränderung, und Rise greift ein, damit ihre Freundschaft nicht zerbricht. Toji scheint mir ein wenig eifersüchtig und kindisch (er ist ja auch ein Jahr jünger), weshalb ich hoffe, dass er das auch akzeptieren kann und keinen Mist baut. Zen und Risa kommen sich in diesem Band auch viel näher und gestehen sich ihre Gefühle. Wie Zen für Risa da ist, ist ungewohnt für sie, aber sie freut sich sehr, muss aber mit diesen neuen Gefühlen erstmal klarkommen. Ich frage mich, wie ihre Beziehung zu Zen nun ihr Leben verändern wird, da sich auch ihr Fokus im ersten Moment etwas ändert. Ich hoffe nicht, dass die Leute in ihrem Leben den beiden einen Strich durch die Rechnung machen wollen, weil “Zen nicht gut genug für sie ist”. Keiner scheint Risa nämlich eigentlich wirklich zu kennen, selbst ihre Mutter nicht. Freue mich auf jeden Fall sehr für die beiden und bin schon super gespannt, wie ihre Geschichte weitergeht.
Recap: Zen is determined to do well on his exams because Risa promised him a date if he does! Some shenanigans with his crew, she makes them study packets, one is against her getting close to Zen. She gets sick and he comes to spend time with her and is so stinking sweet!! Ends with him asking her to be his girlfriend after he’s late to get to her because he went to a fight.
hmpf, it's still cute but not as good as the first volume. I wasn't really happy about the fact that Risa seemingly drops the priorities in her life for Zen (while not receiving quite as much from him, on top of that). This kind of follows the classic story lines of the olden days shojo which I am used to but no longer a huge fan of.
So so so cute. The back and forth between Zen and Risa makes me so happy. Zen is such a green flag, and I like how they're pushing each other to be better without being overbearing.
Risa está agradecida con Zen, ya que él siempre va en su rescate y muy lentamente se ha ido abriendo en su corazón.
La historia parte casi exactamente donde dejamos el anterior 🤭🤭
Me gusta el hecho de que en tan poquitas páginas pasen tantas cosas bonitas entre los personajes. Risa de a poco se va dando cuenta que por traumas de la infancia no puede abrir su corazón tan fácilmente, ni expresar sus emociones de manera correcta, pero ahí es cuando aparece Zen y hace que todo sea más fácil, aunque a ella claramente le cuesta bastante entender que es lo que pasa.
La historia es muy suave, a pesar de que pasan cosas “malas” se toman desde un sentido mucho más realista y “tierno” por lo que es un manga muy bonito de leer.
Ame mucho que Risa quisiera ayudar a los amigos de Zen a aprobar el año 🖤
Es una historia muy linda, sin muchas complicaciones y donde el amor va naciendo de a poco y es más lento.
“Porque quiero vivir en sincronía contigo. Quiero ver y sentir las mismas cosas que tú, al mismo tiempo”
5 ☆ "𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺. 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦." i immediately read this volume right after finishing the first one because i love this manga series so much! this volume was incredibly cute, and i might even like it more than the first volume (which says a lot because i really, really liked volume 1!). this volume feels more intimate as we see the characters grow closer while helping each other. there are subtle hand touches, lingering gazes, them being wrapped up in each other's arms, he wrapping a lock of her hair around his finger, gentle kisses, meaningful smiles that express their love for each other, and so many emotions from her being all flustered and blushy and him being so so in love with her, all smiley, happy and dreamy. i really adore how caring he is. there's the classic “being sick” trope in this one, where the love interest comes over to take care of her. there’s something vulnerable about allowing someone to care of you, and i loved that in this volume. because due to her mom often being away for work, she has always felt alone and has learned to rely on herself and only herself from a young age, she always longed for someone to stay with her. and he stayed, so she finally felt like she wasn't alone, which i found really heartwarming, beautiful and cute! i love how he makes her feel so cherished, seen, and so in love, and how she is gradually opening up to him and allowing to rely on others and ask for help. their relationship feels so safe and it heals my heart. i know that he is the supposed "bad boy", but he doesn't feel like that at all, at least to me. he is the sweetest. even tho we don't really know much about him still, i really like him. and yay, they are finally dating!! ♡ the art is still so so pretty and adorable, and there are so many cute scenes that made my heart flutter! (especially with all the cute sparkles and shimmers added to those scenes!) <3 i also really connect with the fmc because she feels so real and relatable in a way. ahh, my heart!!! i just love how this manga makes me feel all the hopeless romantic feelings ♡ <3 i can't wait to read the rest of the volumes and see their love blossom! and hopefully, we'll get to learn more about him as well.
update: i hope this will one day turn into an anime bc oh my goodness that would be amazing and perfect but i'll treasure this one as a manga forever! <3