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Koko ni Iru Yo! #3-5
I Am Here! Omnibus Vol. 02
Invisible to her classmates, Hikage Sumino is an eighth grader with no self-esteem. Her only friends are the visitors to her Internet blog. One day, the most popular boy in the grade suddenly talks to her. Encouraged by this twist of fate, Hikage determines to transform her life and declare to the world, I Am Here!
WHEN THE SUNFLOWER BLOOMS
After the sudden disappearance of Black Rabbit from her blog, a series of surprises continues to shake up Hikage's world. What if someone you met online turned out to be someone you knew in real life? In this volume, Hikage, Hinata, and Teru overcome jealousy and betrayal, and together learn valuable lessons about friendship, love, and forgiveness.
This book collects chapters 11-19 of I Am Here! (Koko ni iru yo!).
FINAL VOLUME!
WHEN THE SUNFLOWER BLOOMS
After the sudden disappearance of Black Rabbit from her blog, a series of surprises continues to shake up Hikage's world. What if someone you met online turned out to be someone you knew in real life? In this volume, Hikage, Hinata, and Teru overcome jealousy and betrayal, and together learn valuable lessons about friendship, love, and forgiveness.
This book collects chapters 11-19 of I Am Here! (Koko ni iru yo!).
FINAL VOLUME!
432 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2008
45 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
Ema Tōyama
138 books256 followersJapanese Name: 遠山 えま
She made her debut in September 2003 in the monthly manga magazine Nakayoshi with her story, Tenshi no Tamago ("Angel's Egg", no relation to the anime movie of the same name). Gokkun! Pūcho is considered her best representative work. Tokyopop has licenced it under the title Pixie Pop. All of her works are published by Kodansha, and they are enjoyed mainly by preteen and teen girls. None of her series have yet become anime.
She made her debut in September 2003 in the monthly manga magazine Nakayoshi with her story, Tenshi no Tamago ("Angel's Egg", no relation to the anime movie of the same name). Gokkun! Pūcho is considered her best representative work. Tokyopop has licenced it under the title Pixie Pop. All of her works are published by Kodansha, and they are enjoyed mainly by preteen and teen girls. None of her series have yet become anime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 14, 2012
I really loved volume one, and I'm very happy that I can say that I liked volume two every bit as much. There's a love triangle here, which normally makes me cringe. But it was handled very nicely here. Both boys really liked and respected Hikage, and they remain friendly towards each other until they think that the other has been pressuring Hikage into choosing him. No friends are lost over this. It's a very sweet romance over all. I also liked the bonus story, featuring Mega Pig from Hikage's blog. It was a very different story from Hikage's, and it made a nice change of tone. I'm only sorry that there isn't more, because I would like to see all of these characters again.
May 12, 2019
Adorable! I will definitely reread this at some point. It was very cute and sweet. I liked the bonus scene a lot. Overall, a cute 2-volume manga series. 5 stars.
April 19, 2018
The first omnibus volume introduced Hikage, Hinata, and Teru. Hikage starts off practically invisible to everyone around her except Hinata and Teru. In the first volume, we learned that Hinata has a crush on Hikage. Hinata's jealous fans - one girl in particular - start bullying Hikage for spending too much time with him. In the end she's able to stand up to them.
Whereas the first omnibus volume was focused more on Hikage and her efforts to make friends, this omnibus volume was focused more on Hinata and Teru and the mystery of Black Rabbit's identity. Hikage is convinced that Hinata is Black Rabbit, a possibility that's initially appealing but then fills her with horror and embarrassment. Black Rabbit is her kindest and most supportive online friend. If Hinata is Black Rabbit, that could mean that her "friend" was really laughing about her behind her back as he was encouraging her to talk to him more. Hinata keeps denying that he's Black Rabbit, but he's clearly hiding something.
Things become even more difficult for Hikage when Teru realizes that he has a crush on Hikage too and the two best friends, Hinata and Teru, ask her to choose between them. While Hikage tries to figure out what to do, the wedge between Hinata and Teru starts to tear their entire class in two.
I felt so-so about the first omnibus volume, but since this series is so short I felt like I should finish it anyway. This final omnibus had some parts I liked and some I loathed.
I liked the closer look at Hinata and Teru's friendship. Now that I know Black Rabbit's secret (which I didn't clue into while reading the first volume but figured out a few pages into this one), I have a different perspective on what was going on between Hinata and Teru in the first half of the series. The first half of this volume, when Hinata and Teru were still actively trying to make sure that whatever each of them might be feeling for Hikage didn't hurt their friendship, was fine. Unfortunately, it fell apart when the love triangle reared its ugly head.
I hated the love triangle. Once Teru realized that he was in love with Hikage, his and Hinata's relationship devolved into a competition over Hikage. Teru was a liar, too - he'd say that he didn't want to make things difficult for Hikage, but then he'd explicitly ask her to choose between him and Hinata. Since Hinata and Teru's friendship turned out to be the glue that held the entire class together, asking Hinata to choose meant she'd also be responsible for the class group breaking in half, a fact that her fellow classmates picked up on right away (and almost piled on her for). Hikage found herself at risk of not only losing her budding romantic relationship and all her friendships and budding friendships, all because of this stupid love triangle.
The love triangle resolved itself less painfully for the characters than I expected, but that was mostly because Toyama allowed the tension between Hinata and Teru to just sort of magically evaporate. Some aspects of the love triangle never quite went away, despite Hikage making her choice, which left me wondering whether the issue had really been resolved. I suppose it could morph into an inside joke shared by all three of the characters...
In addition to the love triangle, I also hated that the bullying storyline came back, with the exact same bully. Even though her previous plans resulted in her own public humiliation, Aya decided to jump back into the fray with new plans...that could easily be traced back to her and used to humiliate her a second time. Because this is supposed to be fluffy shojo starring a super-sweet heroine, instead of humiliation Aya got an apology, a smile, and an encouraging speech.
Meanwhile, I'm the horrible person who thinks that there was nothing for Hikage to apologize for. Aya was in the wrong for thinking that Hinata was supposed to be some kind of untouchable idol and trying to keep others away from him. She was also in the wrong for bullying Hikage for getting close to him. She made it worse by impersonating several people in the love triangle to further screw up everyone's relationships, all so she could win over a guy who'd already made it clear he wasn't interested in her.
On the plus side, I was glad that Hikage's online relationships didn't quite work out the way I originally thought they were going to. It wasn't as neat and tidy as "Black Rabbit is this person from Hikage's offline life and Mega Pig is that person," and I liked the recognition that the way people interact with others online might not always match how they interact with them in person. So there's that. (And yes, characters could use their flip phones to post comments on Hikage's blog. They do it on-page in this volume, answering the question I had back while I was reading the first volume.)
I didn't hate this series, but this half of it was definitely weaker than the first half, and the first half was mediocre. Parts of the series were stronger than I expected, but the bullying storyline and the love triangle were both annoying. If ever there was a series that I wish had completely ditched its romance aspect and just focused on friendship, it's this one. I was more than a bit horrified when Hikage examined her feelings for Hinata and Teru and began to lean towards the "romantic relationships are more important than friendships" answer. The series didn't quite work out that way, but I still wasn't a fan of how Toyama handled things.
Extras:
The volume includes several author sidebars featuring a not-particularly-interesting comic series starring Mega Pig (the actual cartoon animal) and Mahi (the sunflower character), character profiles for Hikage, Hinata, and Teru, a short comic starring fourth-grade Hinata and Teru, a few pages of humorous short comics, and a few pages of translator's notes. There's also a bonus comic starring Mega Pig (his offline self), which was kind of cute and tied up a few loose ends from the main series.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Whereas the first omnibus volume was focused more on Hikage and her efforts to make friends, this omnibus volume was focused more on Hinata and Teru and the mystery of Black Rabbit's identity. Hikage is convinced that Hinata is Black Rabbit, a possibility that's initially appealing but then fills her with horror and embarrassment. Black Rabbit is her kindest and most supportive online friend. If Hinata is Black Rabbit, that could mean that her "friend" was really laughing about her behind her back as he was encouraging her to talk to him more. Hinata keeps denying that he's Black Rabbit, but he's clearly hiding something.
Things become even more difficult for Hikage when Teru realizes that he has a crush on Hikage too and the two best friends, Hinata and Teru, ask her to choose between them. While Hikage tries to figure out what to do, the wedge between Hinata and Teru starts to tear their entire class in two.
I felt so-so about the first omnibus volume, but since this series is so short I felt like I should finish it anyway. This final omnibus had some parts I liked and some I loathed.
I liked the closer look at Hinata and Teru's friendship. Now that I know Black Rabbit's secret (which I didn't clue into while reading the first volume but figured out a few pages into this one), I have a different perspective on what was going on between Hinata and Teru in the first half of the series. The first half of this volume, when Hinata and Teru were still actively trying to make sure that whatever each of them might be feeling for Hikage didn't hurt their friendship, was fine. Unfortunately, it fell apart when the love triangle reared its ugly head.
I hated the love triangle. Once Teru realized that he was in love with Hikage, his and Hinata's relationship devolved into a competition over Hikage. Teru was a liar, too - he'd say that he didn't want to make things difficult for Hikage, but then he'd explicitly ask her to choose between him and Hinata. Since Hinata and Teru's friendship turned out to be the glue that held the entire class together, asking Hinata to choose meant she'd also be responsible for the class group breaking in half, a fact that her fellow classmates picked up on right away (and almost piled on her for). Hikage found herself at risk of not only losing her budding romantic relationship and all her friendships and budding friendships, all because of this stupid love triangle.
The love triangle resolved itself less painfully for the characters than I expected, but that was mostly because Toyama allowed the tension between Hinata and Teru to just sort of magically evaporate. Some aspects of the love triangle never quite went away, despite Hikage making her choice, which left me wondering whether the issue had really been resolved. I suppose it could morph into an inside joke shared by all three of the characters...
In addition to the love triangle, I also hated that the bullying storyline came back, with the exact same bully. Even though her previous plans resulted in her own public humiliation, Aya decided to jump back into the fray with new plans...that could easily be traced back to her and used to humiliate her a second time. Because this is supposed to be fluffy shojo starring a super-sweet heroine, instead of humiliation Aya got an apology, a smile, and an encouraging speech.
Meanwhile, I'm the horrible person who thinks that there was nothing for Hikage to apologize for. Aya was in the wrong for thinking that Hinata was supposed to be some kind of untouchable idol and trying to keep others away from him. She was also in the wrong for bullying Hikage for getting close to him. She made it worse by impersonating several people in the love triangle to further screw up everyone's relationships, all so she could win over a guy who'd already made it clear he wasn't interested in her.
On the plus side, I was glad that Hikage's online relationships didn't quite work out the way I originally thought they were going to. It wasn't as neat and tidy as "Black Rabbit is this person from Hikage's offline life and Mega Pig is that person," and I liked the recognition that the way people interact with others online might not always match how they interact with them in person. So there's that. (And yes, characters could use their flip phones to post comments on Hikage's blog. They do it on-page in this volume, answering the question I had back while I was reading the first volume.)
I didn't hate this series, but this half of it was definitely weaker than the first half, and the first half was mediocre. Parts of the series were stronger than I expected, but the bullying storyline and the love triangle were both annoying. If ever there was a series that I wish had completely ditched its romance aspect and just focused on friendship, it's this one. I was more than a bit horrified when Hikage examined her feelings for Hinata and Teru and began to lean towards the "romantic relationships are more important than friendships" answer. The series didn't quite work out that way, but I still wasn't a fan of how Toyama handled things.
Extras:
The volume includes several author sidebars featuring a not-particularly-interesting comic series starring Mega Pig (the actual cartoon animal) and Mahi (the sunflower character), character profiles for Hikage, Hinata, and Teru, a short comic starring fourth-grade Hinata and Teru, a few pages of humorous short comics, and a few pages of translator's notes. There's also a bonus comic starring Mega Pig (his offline self), which was kind of cute and tied up a few loose ends from the main series.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
August 6, 2015
This was cute, but being too predictable ruined this series for me. Sadly, I knew who Hikage was going to end up with before the middle of the book, even though the author did give the twist about the identity of Black Rabbit.
It was just that there was way too much of a slant towards Hinata in all of these books. Teru was never given a chance to get a relationship with Hikage (and didn't get the OMG he's so great thing), so I knew he was out of the picture almost right away in terms of choice. She barely even considered him.
Since it was a book based on making friends and love, and the friends part was done, I got bored after about the middle because of the predictability of it all. I hate it when the author introduces a rival for the affections of the main character, yet gives them no interaction with that character and makes it really obvious they were just stalling for time with that plot twist.
The last chapter about Mega Pig was the most interesting part after the middle, which is sad, seeing as it was a bonus chapter.
3 stars for at least being readable, but I knocked one off for predictability.
It was just that there was way too much of a slant towards Hinata in all of these books. Teru was never given a chance to get a relationship with Hikage (and didn't get the OMG he's so great thing), so I knew he was out of the picture almost right away in terms of choice. She barely even considered him.
Since it was a book based on making friends and love, and the friends part was done, I got bored after about the middle because of the predictability of it all. I hate it when the author introduces a rival for the affections of the main character, yet gives them no interaction with that character and makes it really obvious they were just stalling for time with that plot twist.
The last chapter about Mega Pig was the most interesting part after the middle, which is sad, seeing as it was a bonus chapter.
3 stars for at least being readable, but I knocked one off for predictability.
January 30, 2018
The continuing saga of the ever kinda Hikage as she continues doing her best to step out of a shade of shyness that hides her from those around her. The truth about Black Rabbit is out (we also see something about Mega Pig in a bonus story at the end) and trouble brews as Teru finally understands how important she is to him as well causing a rift between him and his best friend Hinata who both helped Hikage make friends.
I can't help but feel for the various characters in the story as love is questioned, bullies are exposed, and we have to see which sun Hikage will ultimately choose so she can continue to look into the sky like a sunflower. I for one would like to see more about Aya who blames Hikage for her loneliness after Hikage shows her kindness instead of grief even after Aya tried to take away everything she cared for so she would be lonely too.
I am glad we got insight into Mega Pig since his identity was still a mystery at the end of the main series and I really enjoyed his comment that Black Rabbit and Mr Sun's advice were as useful as a white crayon. :)
I can't help but feel for the various characters in the story as love is questioned, bullies are exposed, and we have to see which sun Hikage will ultimately choose so she can continue to look into the sky like a sunflower. I for one would like to see more about Aya who blames Hikage for her loneliness after Hikage shows her kindness instead of grief even after Aya tried to take away everything she cared for so she would be lonely too.
I am glad we got insight into Mega Pig since his identity was still a mystery at the end of the main series and I really enjoyed his comment that Black Rabbit and Mr Sun's advice were as useful as a white crayon. :)
July 21, 2016
*Spoiler Free Review*
“I am Here!” is a concise and sweet shoji manga that any introvert will appreciate at least, and love at best. Written and illustrated by Ema Toyama “I am Here!” or the Japanese title “Ko Ko Ni Iru Yo!”/“ココにいるよ！” consists of five tankoban originally but was brought to us here in the United States by Kodansha into two well constructed omnibuses with extra content that wasn’t released in it’s original serialization in Nakayoshi.
I would recommend this anyone that wants to read a sweet and not overly melodramatic shoujo manga to purchase “I am Here!”. I really enjoyed the pacing of this manga, Toyama could have stretched out certain conflicts to make things much more melodramatic, but instead this is a shoujo series that’s a quick, sweet read with super cute artwork and endearing characters.
“I am Here!” is a concise and sweet shoji manga that any introvert will appreciate at least, and love at best. Written and illustrated by Ema Toyama “I am Here!” or the Japanese title “Ko Ko Ni Iru Yo!”/“ココにいるよ！” consists of five tankoban originally but was brought to us here in the United States by Kodansha into two well constructed omnibuses with extra content that wasn’t released in it’s original serialization in Nakayoshi.
I would recommend this anyone that wants to read a sweet and not overly melodramatic shoujo manga to purchase “I am Here!”. I really enjoyed the pacing of this manga, Toyama could have stretched out certain conflicts to make things much more melodramatic, but instead this is a shoujo series that’s a quick, sweet read with super cute artwork and endearing characters.
August 1, 2011
I thought this was a good story til the end. There are still some questions I would like answered and it makes me wonder if there is going to be a third one, although others that I have talked to said no.
March 1, 2021
This really turned out to be such a sweet story. (TRIGGER: BULLYING)
Hikage went from being nobody to being the one of best-liked girl in class (if not thee best). To have the two class idols, Hinata and Teru competing for her love was so sweet and heartwarming. The bully girl made another appearance, and again did/said horrible things, but Hikage forgave her, and tried to be her friend (in typical bully style, when her bullying failed, she ran away). I figured Hikage would eventually pick Hinata. However, Teru is still very dear to Hikage's heart. His nurturing advice led her to gain strength, courage, and self-esteem, and accept Hinata's love. Really a sweet story overall. The bullying is really harsh, especially in the first volume. However, it gets resolved, and in the process, it makes Hikage one of the most popular girls in the class. Just goes to show that anyone, no matter how inconsequential they think they are, does matter, is loved, is admired, and is adored. My friends, this is a very good lesson to learn for your own lives. Some of you may think no one notices you, or no one cares, but nothing could be further from the truth. Each and every one of you has someone who admires you (maybe in secret), someone who looks up to you, maybe just not where you expect, and there is someone who loves you dearly, even if they haven't said as much. Don't be too harsh on yourself. Be true to who you really are, and always treat everyone with kindness and love, even if it may seem they don't deserve it. The Good Book says "For whatever measure you give out with, it shall be taken from you, multiplied, and returned." So if you give love, kindness, compassion, and friendship, you will receive all these back in return. Maybe just not when you expect it, or from the directions you expect. Hold your head high, and know that each and every one of you is dearly loved. That is the message this story is telling.
Hikage went from being nobody to being the one of best-liked girl in class (if not thee best). To have the two class idols, Hinata and Teru competing for her love was so sweet and heartwarming. The bully girl made another appearance, and again did/said horrible things, but Hikage forgave her, and tried to be her friend (in typical bully style, when her bullying failed, she ran away). I figured Hikage would eventually pick Hinata. However, Teru is still very dear to Hikage's heart. His nurturing advice led her to gain strength, courage, and self-esteem, and accept Hinata's love. Really a sweet story overall. The bullying is really harsh, especially in the first volume. However, it gets resolved, and in the process, it makes Hikage one of the most popular girls in the class. Just goes to show that anyone, no matter how inconsequential they think they are, does matter, is loved, is admired, and is adored. My friends, this is a very good lesson to learn for your own lives. Some of you may think no one notices you, or no one cares, but nothing could be further from the truth. Each and every one of you has someone who admires you (maybe in secret), someone who looks up to you, maybe just not where you expect, and there is someone who loves you dearly, even if they haven't said as much. Don't be too harsh on yourself. Be true to who you really are, and always treat everyone with kindness and love, even if it may seem they don't deserve it. The Good Book says "For whatever measure you give out with, it shall be taken from you, multiplied, and returned." So if you give love, kindness, compassion, and friendship, you will receive all these back in return. Maybe just not when you expect it, or from the directions you expect. Hold your head high, and know that each and every one of you is dearly loved. That is the message this story is telling.
February 3, 2022
sumino's character growth was just.. so beautiful. she's come so far since the first volume, when she was so unsure of herself and absorbed by her loneliness. now she sees how much having people in her life makes everything a little bit brighter and she fights to make sure others don't experience what she did.
I also find it quite fitting that the sunflower got bent because sumino didnt need it so badly now. she has others in her life - a new sun to shine towards.
even though there was nothing super hectic in this manga, i though it was beautifully done. sumino and her friends grow so much, no one's an over the top bitch, it's just a sweet little story. my heart feels lighter after reading this.
I also find it quite fitting that the sunflower got bent because sumino didnt need it so badly now. she has others in her life - a new sun to shine towards.
even though there was nothing super hectic in this manga, i though it was beautifully done. sumino and her friends grow so much, no one's an over the top bitch, it's just a sweet little story. my heart feels lighter after reading this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2018
It was a cute series. My only complaint is that it was too short and I felt like the resolution was a bit too tidy. I am not saying the ending should not have been happy, but there wasn't enough drama within it. I also thought it would have been more interesting if MegaPig turned out to be Teru and then Black Rabbit Hinata.
I also would have liked to see the relationships between the characters fleshed out more and for there to have been more inner conflict between the three. The mean girl trying to ruin things was executed pretty good, but it was too short.
I also would have liked to see the relationships between the characters fleshed out more and for there to have been more inner conflict between the three. The mean girl trying to ruin things was executed pretty good, but it was too short.
September 21, 2017
I loved where this story went! Not only does Hikage find a little more of herself, but so do Teru and Hinata in this one. And while I would have liked to see a little more concrete of an ending, I like the openness of the final chapter Toyama gives us. So glad I found this one!
April 10, 2021
This manga series was super cute and fun to read on this lovely Saturday afternoon. It slightly made me nostalgic for middle school. Reminds me a little of Fruits Basket which I love, gotta convince my sister to read this next!
March 11, 2024
I liked it! It wasn't the best series ever and *spoiler* I would've preferred if she ended up with Teru but oh well, that's personal preference ^^; Still, the art was really pretty and parts of the story were enjoyable, and it made me laugh a few times !
July 17, 2017
Easy reading, not much depth. Average bland story. Didn't feel compelled to finish.
September 10, 2017
It got better but not by much. I am glad I havethe whole series though so my students get to see the whole storyline.
March 5, 2019
Wish that this is a little longer.
December 13, 2020
This story is so adorable. I love it
May 7, 2021
3.75*.
October 4, 2021
3.75/5 Stars
May 31, 2023
The characters grow and develop more into their own. The story continues on with friendship and romance at the heart. This is one of my new favorite mangas.
September 16, 2014
~4/5
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
This little series was very adorable. I am a big fan.
I really like Hikage. She’s quiet and shy and invisible and doesn’t know how to open up, even if she wants to. But she has a blog, where she posts often, with pictures she’s taken, and talks about her daily life and struggle with shyness.
You guys, I understand Hikage. I get it. I get it so much. I really feel for her. It’s part of what made this series so enjoyable for me, how much I feel for her. But she’s also a much better person than I am, particularly with how she reacted to the girl who bullied her. (I mean, I would have smacked a bitch, but not Hikage.) She gets scared, but she also learns how to stay strong, and stick up for what she believes. I admire that about her, especially given her little experience.
On Hikage’s blog, she has two people who comment with her, Black Rabbit and Mega Pig. They encourage her to be open with the people around her, take the step to talk to them. Which is part of how she starts to make friends with her classmates, and get closer to Hinata, a popular boy in her class who’s had his eye on her.
Hinata is adorable. He is a seriously sweet boy, and I really like him. He really has just the cutest, sweetest smile. When he smiles, I want to smile. And the way he and Hikage are so similar, and how obviously well they go together, is just fantastic. I love it.
Then there’s Teru, Hinata’s best friend. He’s a little harsh at times, but for good reasons. I really liked him. There were also a few classmates that Hikage grew closer to, but we didn’t really get to know them. Maybe if there had been more space, we would have; I would have liked to. Especially with Arisa, who seemed like a sweet, up-beat girl.
I’m not going to ruin any of how it worked out, or who the identity of the commenters on Hikage’s blog turned out to be, but I was pretty happy with it. I guessed it beforehand, and I was kind of hoping it was a little more surprising, but I was still happy with how it turned out. Also, there was a short story at the end featuring one of the commenters, and I just loved it. It was adorable and funny, and super sweet.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It was sweet, heart-felt, funny, cute and adorable. I really loved it. And it has definitely made me want to continue Toyama’s other current series, Missions of Love, which I am behind on.
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
This little series was very adorable. I am a big fan.
I really like Hikage. She’s quiet and shy and invisible and doesn’t know how to open up, even if she wants to. But she has a blog, where she posts often, with pictures she’s taken, and talks about her daily life and struggle with shyness.
You guys, I understand Hikage. I get it. I get it so much. I really feel for her. It’s part of what made this series so enjoyable for me, how much I feel for her. But she’s also a much better person than I am, particularly with how she reacted to the girl who bullied her. (I mean, I would have smacked a bitch, but not Hikage.) She gets scared, but she also learns how to stay strong, and stick up for what she believes. I admire that about her, especially given her little experience.
On Hikage’s blog, she has two people who comment with her, Black Rabbit and Mega Pig. They encourage her to be open with the people around her, take the step to talk to them. Which is part of how she starts to make friends with her classmates, and get closer to Hinata, a popular boy in her class who’s had his eye on her.
Hinata is adorable. He is a seriously sweet boy, and I really like him. He really has just the cutest, sweetest smile. When he smiles, I want to smile. And the way he and Hikage are so similar, and how obviously well they go together, is just fantastic. I love it.
Then there’s Teru, Hinata’s best friend. He’s a little harsh at times, but for good reasons. I really liked him. There were also a few classmates that Hikage grew closer to, but we didn’t really get to know them. Maybe if there had been more space, we would have; I would have liked to. Especially with Arisa, who seemed like a sweet, up-beat girl.
I’m not going to ruin any of how it worked out, or who the identity of the commenters on Hikage’s blog turned out to be, but I was pretty happy with it. I guessed it beforehand, and I was kind of hoping it was a little more surprising, but I was still happy with how it turned out. Also, there was a short story at the end featuring one of the commenters, and I just loved it. It was adorable and funny, and super sweet.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It was sweet, heart-felt, funny, cute and adorable. I really loved it. And it has definitely made me want to continue Toyama’s other current series, Missions of Love, which I am behind on.
May 8, 2020
Very cute and PG rated throughout.
February 4, 2012
So this series is basically kimi ni todoke meets densha otoko. And yes, I've been excited about writing that description since the minute I thought of it. :D It's sweet and Hikage's growth is well done for the confines of a two volume series. I'd check out kimi ni todoke for a more sustained look at the same concept but I definitely liked this too.
The first part of this volume is concerned with Hikage trying to find out who Black Rabbit is after he disappears online and she begins to suspect he might be someone close to her. Bringing the conflict into the physical world took some of the focus away from the message that online friendships are important and valuable which is a pity because that was one of my favourite things from volume 1. Friendship in general still remains an important theme this volume though.
Points to the author for making me briefly believe she might actually end up going with Hikage/Teru as endgame. It's usually obvious the first guy in a love triangle is going to end up with the girl so I had no doubts on that front until Teru started getting developed and I began to think it might actually be a thing. My own impatience tricked me there, I flipped ahead, noticed how much he was being emphasized and started to wonder.
A quibble: Still, it wasn't a hugely important part of the volume and didn't affect my enjoyment of the overall storyline. 3.5 stars
The first part of this volume is concerned with Hikage trying to find out who Black Rabbit is after he disappears online and she begins to suspect he might be someone close to her. Bringing the conflict into the physical world took some of the focus away from the message that online friendships are important and valuable which is a pity because that was one of my favourite things from volume 1. Friendship in general still remains an important theme this volume though.
Points to the author for making me briefly believe she might actually end up going with Hikage/Teru as endgame. It's usually obvious the first guy in a love triangle is going to end up with the girl so I had no doubts on that front until Teru started getting developed and I began to think it might actually be a thing. My own impatience tricked me there, I flipped ahead, noticed how much he was being emphasized and started to wonder.
A quibble: Still, it wasn't a hugely important part of the volume and didn't affect my enjoyment of the overall storyline. 3.5 stars
August 6, 2011
One of the most interesting things about this volume is that it was released by Kodansha Comics rather than the person who initially released it here in the US, Del Rey. I was pleased (and a little disappointed, I'll admit) to see that Kodansha stayed with Del Rey's cover designs for this volume. It's identical to what you'd expect from Del Rey, with the exception of the Kodansha logo on the spine. It makes me wonder how much of the work in this volume was actually done by Kodansha & how much was done by Del Rey. (Not that they don't have the right to lay claim to any work Del Rey has done. I was just hoping to see Kodansha sort of make themselves stand out a little more.) Although I admit that keeping to the original designs will make the transition easier for many fans.
Now that I've gone over that, on to the actual review.
This was an incredibly cute volume. I was a little surprised to see how the romantic angle *wasn't* the main focus of the manga. It's a big part of the series, but the main focus of this wasn't to see who Hikage would pick but to see her go from being a loner to a full fledged member of the world around her. In the first volume she's pulled out of her isolation by other people; in this volume she has to try to do things herself & solve her own problems. The love triangle? That's just a bonus. Then there's the artwork, which was gorgeous.
If you like sweet manga then you'll love this series.
Now that I've gone over that, on to the actual review.
This was an incredibly cute volume. I was a little surprised to see how the romantic angle *wasn't* the main focus of the manga. It's a big part of the series, but the main focus of this wasn't to see who Hikage would pick but to see her go from being a loner to a full fledged member of the world around her. In the first volume she's pulled out of her isolation by other people; in this volume she has to try to do things herself & solve her own problems. The love triangle? That's just a bonus. Then there's the artwork, which was gorgeous.
If you like sweet manga then you'll love this series.
July 21, 2013
Oh my gosh. Well, at first, I honestly thought this volume was starting out a bit too melodramatic for my tastes... but things just got so much better as the volume progressed. The symbolism did not stop, and not only continued, but got better. Twists and turns ensued, and so much happened. Yet, in the end, everything turned out alright. This manga series has one of the most beautiful romance endings ever, I believe, and one of the best confession scenes ever... Plus, I would like to write a little something about Aya. If you read the first volume, you would know about her and what she did. I hated her, in all honesty. In this volume, however, it gave her depth. This volume gave everyone even more depth than they already had, mind you, but Aya... oh my goodness. I just wanted to give her a hug by the end of this volume. I felt so bad for her. I'm glad everything concluded so happily and wonderfully, though. I really loved this manga; it is definitely one of my all-time favorites now. To think I only picked up the first volume just because I liked the cover art. In the end, I ended up reading one of the most dramatic yet wonderful high-school teen romance mangas ever. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars~ <3 I hope everyone who is in the shade can step out into the sun like the true sunflower they are...
May 18, 2012
Well I finished it.
Well not finished, but more like "skimmed through to see what was happening, finding it absolutely boring, and just flipping the pages to find the sidebars with the fucking ADORABLE Sunflower-Lion called Mahi Mahi that the author loves to draw".
Seriously, that thing is FUGGING CUTE!
And YES I know a Mahi Mahi is the name of a fish -__-
The art was almost TOO good, and it felt a little..over-achieverish compared to the storyline. I mean, I guess I'm personally just having a bad day (I'm so full of energy that I'm flipping raging all over the place because I don't know what to do with it!! RAWRGH!), but I really don't care about your social awkwardness problems, Hikage. Stop being such a little pansy and stand up for yourself.
I do think that the characters are drawn adorably and totally kawaii, moe desu ka!!! and all that. They really are adorable.
But I just didn't care about this story in the end. Maybe it was the fact that it was in "Lord of the Rings" tome size. I need a physical break from the story, people -__-
Ugh..
Well not finished, but more like "skimmed through to see what was happening, finding it absolutely boring, and just flipping the pages to find the sidebars with the fucking ADORABLE Sunflower-Lion called Mahi Mahi that the author loves to draw".
Seriously, that thing is FUGGING CUTE!
And YES I know a Mahi Mahi is the name of a fish -__-
The art was almost TOO good, and it felt a little..over-achieverish compared to the storyline. I mean, I guess I'm personally just having a bad day (I'm so full of energy that I'm flipping raging all over the place because I don't know what to do with it!! RAWRGH!), but I really don't care about your social awkwardness problems, Hikage. Stop being such a little pansy and stand up for yourself.
I do think that the characters are drawn adorably and totally kawaii, moe desu ka!!! and all that. They really are adorable.
But I just didn't care about this story in the end. Maybe it was the fact that it was in "Lord of the Rings" tome size. I need a physical break from the story, people -__-
Ugh..
March 3, 2014
Synopsis:
WHEN THE SUNFLOWER BLOOMS
After the sudden disappearance of Black Rabbit from her blog, a series of surprises continues to shake up Hikage's world. What if someone you met online turned out to be someone you knew in real life? In this volume, Hikage, Hinata, and Teru overcome jealousy and betrayal, and together learn valuable lessons about friendship, love, and forgiveness.
This book collects chapters 11-19 of I Am Here! (Koko ni iru yo!).
FINAL VOLUME!
My Thoughts:
This volume is very cute, too. I really like these characters. I could have done without the return of Aya, but I suppose without her, Hikage couldn't have brought Hinata and Teru back together as friends after their big fight. Granted, without Aya, they wouldn't have fought in the first place.
I kind of wanted Hikage to end up with the other boy, though. Still, it was fun watching things get to that point. Hikage has really come a long way and it's thanks to Hinata and Teru that she has and it's also a big part due to her own desire to change. She's had it in her all along to change herself, they just helped her along. I was really rooting for her, so I'm glad she found her happiness.
WHEN THE SUNFLOWER BLOOMS
After the sudden disappearance of Black Rabbit from her blog, a series of surprises continues to shake up Hikage's world. What if someone you met online turned out to be someone you knew in real life? In this volume, Hikage, Hinata, and Teru overcome jealousy and betrayal, and together learn valuable lessons about friendship, love, and forgiveness.
This book collects chapters 11-19 of I Am Here! (Koko ni iru yo!).
FINAL VOLUME!
My Thoughts:
This volume is very cute, too. I really like these characters. I could have done without the return of Aya, but I suppose without her, Hikage couldn't have brought Hinata and Teru back together as friends after their big fight. Granted, without Aya, they wouldn't have fought in the first place.
I kind of wanted Hikage to end up with the other boy, though. Still, it was fun watching things get to that point. Hikage has really come a long way and it's thanks to Hinata and Teru that she has and it's also a big part due to her own desire to change. She's had it in her all along to change herself, they just helped her along. I was really rooting for her, so I'm glad she found her happiness.
June 26, 2012
This series was a school-girl romance, and a cheesy one at that. But owning a blog that has few followers, being invisible, and dealing with feelings for two boys at once is something I could easily relate to. The analogy of the Sunflower was fitting and beautifully portrayed throughout the piece, and the art style matched perfectly. There is a moment with our heroine sleeping at her desk where the art showed so much delicacy and emotion.
I read the entire thing in one sitting; it's really easy to get into and lose yourself in this world.
In short, this manga was a guilty pleasure.
I read the entire thing in one sitting; it's really easy to get into and lose yourself in this world.
In short, this manga was a guilty pleasure.
Read
September 8, 2012I really love the whole I am Here manga series!!! I love how sweet and innocent Hikage is, and how even when people are mean to her she meets it with compassion. I love both the male characters, (although personally I am Team Teru!*girlish squeal!*)and how they both love and respect Hikage. My favorite part about volume 2 was when Hikage is snoozing on her desk and Teru is watching her, which was super sweet. Plus through all this you really feel bad for him. But anyway, this was a really touching manga and I would definatly recommend it to anyone who has read volume 1!
April 16, 2016
Admittedly I first thought this would be a bit underwhelming but I actually really ended up loving Am Here! The story is a little predictable but the artwork is pretty and Hikage Sumino is a relatable character.
Due to an accident Hikage wasn’t there at the beginning of the school year, she’s quiet and incredibly shy so she’s become invisible to those around her. Slowly she becomes more confident, spurred on by her online friends and the friendship she begins to build with the boy from her class. The story works because Hikage is so endearing.
Due to an accident Hikage wasn’t there at the beginning of the school year, she’s quiet and incredibly shy so she’s become invisible to those around her. Slowly she becomes more confident, spurred on by her online friends and the friendship she begins to build with the boy from her class. The story works because Hikage is so endearing.
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