No.6, Volume 9

No.6 Light Novels #9

by Atsuko Asano, 影山 徹

圧倒的迫力のシリーズ最終巻！
炎上する矯正施設から間一髪で脱出した紫苑とネズミはそれぞれの思いを胸に、最後の闘いに挑む。崩壊する聖都市ＮＯ．６、その先に広がる新たな世界とは…。

Genres: Light Novel, Dystopia, Manga, Japanese Literature, Science Fiction, LGBT, Young Adult

210 pages, Paperback

First published June 14, 2011

About the author

Japanese profile: あさのあつこ

Reviews

[Norah Una Sumner · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You called me, and I listened. I reached out, and you caught my arm. I opened the window so I could meet you.

That's our truth, Nezumi."

I can't believe this journey is over. I am literally still so emotional and I'm going to miss the squad so much. SO MUCH. I loved this volume and the fact that Inukashi and Rikiga were a part of it (their bickering gives me absolute life). The ending...



Love this photo of me yelling at Nezumi to stop making sense and breaking my heart.

As much as it was bitter sweet it was actually better than I expected and was something we could've expected from the very beginning. This series will hold a very special place in my heart.

[o · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn. I know this is a fairly common statement, but novel > anime. Forever. Times a million.

If anything, reading the novelized version of the no. 6 universe has merely increased my obsessive love for the series. Wow. Just wow.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

i've read this whole series once, about 12 or 13 years ago (half my age this year??) but i guess i've never really understood it properly until now. i'm now pissed with the anime adaptation. it didn't do much justice especially the ending. they practically skipped the most important part of the story, what the heck. i appreciate that i have a song in mind whenever they talk about it in the books though--hearing it still makes me cry every time.

still processing the story, so will prolly update this review then.

[amela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ta seria to jedna z najlepszych rzeczy jakie mnie spotkały kocham to

[Asami · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is done. I have done it. I have read No.6!

I have fallen in love with all the characters. It was a great read, I loved this volume and I think everything was wrapped up nicely. There was so much character development throughout the whole novel, it was beautiful.

Asano Atsuko is amazing, simply amazing! The world she has built and the characters she has created are beautiful and I'm glad I was able to get to know them through No.6.

It's been a long journey and I've finally managed to get to the finish line.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY CRAP

[Jahi · Rating 5 out of 5]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ･｡Tú me llamaste y yo escuché. Estiré la mano y tú la tomaste. Abrí la ventana para poder conocerte.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Esa es nuestra verdad, Nezumi.･ﾟ

¡Ha terminado! No quiero.



⠀Tengo la misma sensación de hace diez años: tristeza, esperanza, cariño, alegría. Es muy bonito todo lo que he vivido e incluso todo a sido mejor que en el anime, en especial la conclusión de las cosas.

⠀Por fin tenemos respuestas, por fin hay una explicación y por fin sabemos más del pasado de Nezumi, desde su infancia hasta el punto de partida cuando Shion abre la ventana, y debido a todo eso puedo decir que este volumen es asombroso y lo he amado completamente.

⠀Aún me pregunto, ¿por qué realizaron tantos cambios a la hora de hacerlo animación? Siempre me planteé que el último capitulo fue muy apresurado. Y lo peor de todo fue dejar de lado a dos personajes que son igual de buenos que los protagonistas: Inukashi y Rikiga.
⠀Aquí sí que tienen participación y es por ello que se puede observar el cambio que estos también tienen. Además de la amistad que se forma en torno a los cuatro y como dejan de lado sus deseos personales.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ —Escucha, —dijo Inukashi bruscamente. —nunca antes he consolado a nadie, solía pensar que no valía ni una migaja de pan, y aún lo pienso; pero… pero si quieres que te consuele ahora mismo… si estando aquí puedo consolarte en cierta forma, entonces… entonces, estaré aquí.

¿No es todo bonito?

⠀También los momentos donde se rompe la tensión se debe a ellos, que juntos se lanzan comentarios divertidos (hubieron ocasiones que quería que pararan, pero las risas siempre son bienvenidas).

⠀Si bien la historia da un giro más en torno a la fantasía hay planteamientos que son muy interesantes. En especial lo que hicieron los que construyeron No.6 con tal de tener su ciudad "utópica". Lo único malo es que el conflicto se resolvió extremadamente rápido, pero aún así me gustó mucho.

⠀Ahora tengo esta sensación de vacío. Extrañaré a mis chicos hermosos. A Shion con sus pensamientos positivos. A Nezumi con su sarcasmo. A los ratoncitos que son de lo más tiernos e inteligentes. Y tengo aún esperanza de que, algún día, pueda haber una, eh ¿segunda temporada?



⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ➳❥ Seguiré esperando. Sin importar los años que pasen, sin importar cuanto envejezca, continuaré esperándote justo aquí, en esta tierra.
El errante y el estacionario, sus caminos estaban destinados a cruzarse de nuevo, y cuando lo hicieran, no lo volvería a dejar ir tan fácilmente.

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series, argh. It started out so very well, with an intriguing mystery and some wonderful character moments. When it slowed down towards the middle I plodded on because I'd gotten attached to the characters and wanted to see where the story went. But the ending! One big rushed mess of info dump to (sort of?) explain the central mystery, and none of the emotional hooks resolved. (I'm not even just talking about Shion and Nezumi. What about Shion and his mum? All that worry and we don't even get to see or hear about their reunion.)

Still, the series was enjoyable overall; I suppose the ending at least leaves a lot of room for interpretation.

[Radwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

- I loved the bond that strengethens everu book between Nezumi, Shion and Inukashi.
- some sections, especially in karan's chapters, felt like a propaganda.
- knowing the full backstory of no.6 origin story and nezumi's story in the final book seems like such a mean tease.
- the end was too easy for such a long buildup.

No. 6 is really a story about native people who got their home taken from them by occupiers and were led to extinction. about a false utopia, hypnotizing people into believing that the government is working for their sake and that their walled city is safe and that the outside world is dangerous. about human greed and its repeating nature, that even when the whole world crumbles, the remaining humans would still repeat their doomed cycle all over again. about ambitions and lost innocense.

it reads like a redemption request for humans, as long as they embrace peace and stop acts of war.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always wary of rereading my old favourites because what if I don't love it as much as I did the first time? But this year for me is all about coming back to my favourites from 5 years ago so when a random post on tumblr put the idea of rereading these novels into my head I just had to do it and look at me now, mind completely taken over by this story again...

[Nea Poulain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ya casi saldé mi deuda con Atsuko Asano. Que buena historia es no. 6.

[Oline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally read the light novels and im even more in love with this story

[bahi · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best volume in the series!!

[mas · Rating 5 out of 5]

ruined my life this book is literally my cause of death

[Sunflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reunion will come, Shion

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead

I'm not gonna bother rating the entire series. While I did enjoy some books more than others, I think the three star rating holds up for all of them.

Look, I have a lot of love for this series. I watched and read the anime and manga multiple time a few years ago but never ended up reading the light novels. I could talk about how I don't like sci-fi and dystopian (which is probably my least favourite genre). Because of that I didn't particularly like some aspects of the book. I found some of the world-building tedious to read about, didn't rally care for Safu's plotline, or particularly like Elyurias/the parasitic wasp involvement. But I chalk this dislike more up to the fact that the two genres no. 6 fits into are probably my two least favourite ones.

I could talk about the writing style. These are light novels (bunko in Japanese, meaning paperbacks directed towards teenagers). Because of this, it shares a lot of the problems I have with western young adult, those being a pretty uninspired writing style, an abundance of inner monologues, overexplaining what's happening, and just having a generally young tone. I did cringe a little at some of the dialogue and scenes and ended up skimming certain parts. So often there was a sentence of dialogue followed by a very long internal monologue. As a result, though, all nine of these were very easy reads.

I could also talk about how a lot of the character were either morally good or bad, with not much portrayal in between. I feel bad for saying this as well but Karan's sections were either interesting or bland. Rikiga and Inukashi also didn't interest me that much, especially when it was just the two of them in the last few books wen Nezumi and Shion entered the correctional facility. Their dynamic was overly simplistic and their bickering got old pretty quick. Another thing I felt odd is how Yoming is villainised who, although radical, is trying his best to create change under an oppressive regime.

But in the end, I didn't care all that much. I still enjoyed reading these as much as I liked watching and reading the anime and manga a few years back and I still cared for the characters (especially Nezumi and Shion) all the same. The themes these light novels address (some more subtlety than others) are both really important and severely underrepresented. I was really happy to see discussions of how important art and culture is to society, especially when these subjects are seen as less important by a lot of people.

The series also addresses how science is and has been used to justify oppressing certain groups of people, and even the way the unequal distribution of wealth can be explained. These are undoubtedly explored better than the anime and manga which skip a lot of information due to time restraints. Another aspect not handled in a lot of media is that of indigenous people and their oppression and erasure which is a fairly main part of the story. Nezumi himself is a descendent of this group of people.

At it's core, the story is about the goodness of people; people helping other for the sake of it, because they are all human. I love that Shion is described as naive for being optimistic but he's not weak. It's about the strength of staying positive in a world full of injustices. It was amazing to see a trans character and gay romance depicted in a young adult without being the main focus. It's just another aspect of the characters.

The ending felt a little rushed but it's one that leaves on a note of hope. Nezumi leaves but promises to return. Shion stays behind to rebuild a better world. It's a question that comes up throughout the series: can they make a better place that won't just become another No. 6? But it's clear the author believes in the idea that people can be good, and that they generally want to be good to others. It feels as relevant as it did when I was first introduced to the story. I think it will always be relevant because a lot of people are always trying to build a better world.

[Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Era il 7 Settembre 2013 – il giorno del suo dodicesimo compleanno. La Città Santa
era stata colpita da un uragano”.

Così si apre l’ultimo volume della mia Light Novel preferita, quello che ho rimandato a leggere per un sacco di tempo, perché ne conoscevo l’epilogo e non ero pronta a lasciare andare i suoi protagonisti.
Non che ora lo sia.
Diciamo che mi sono rassegnata a farlo e che ho letto sapendo perfettamente che le parole di Nezumi a Karan, “vi riunirete assolutamente”, sarebbero valse anche per lui e Shion, almeno così io interpreto il Side Story di No.6 che credo rileggerò dopo aver rivisto tutto l’anime, dato che mi sento parecchio in lutto.

Dico sempre che Shion e Nezumi sono la mia debolezza e che la loro storia per me ha un valore molto grande.


Si apre così come è cominciato tutto, quella terribile notte che cambiò ogni cosa.
Quel memorabile giorno di tempesta, gli abitanti di No.6 non si sentivano minacciati da niente, soprattutto i residenti di Cronos: nell’utopia perfetta di quella città, risultato della saggezza e della più avanzata tecnologia umana, niente poteva sfuggire al controllo di No.6, nemmeno il meteo.
Quel giorno di tempesta, però, un ragazzino di dodici anni non si sentiva come tutti gli altri. No.6 lo spaventava, sembrava soffocarlo, e la tempesta gli appariva un grido di libertà, come quello che gli uscì dalla gola quando Shion, sfidando i controlli computerizzati di Cronos, spalancò la sua finestra.
Urlò con tutte le sue forze, Shion. Urlò attraverso il vento e la pioggia che lo stava inzuppando.
Urlò per se stesso e per qualcun altro: Nezumi.

|Quella notte di tempesta aprii la mia finestra.
Per quale motivo? Se lo domandava spesso. Per quale ragione aprii quella
finestra? Perché ero incitato da quella natura impazzita? Mi spingeva un violento
impulso? Per quale ragione? Di certo ho aperto la finestra e ho urlato con tutte le
mie forze, gridando come per gettare fuori tutta la rabbia. Se non lo avessi fatto,
avevo l’impressione che sarei andato in pezzi. A modo mio, temevo sarei stato
intrappolato e addomesticato da No. 6.
Una paura indefinita – forse qualcosa che tu non hai mai conosciuto, Nezumi.
Mi sembrava di soffocare. Avevo paura, volevo gridare.
Ecco perché ho aperto la finestra – no?
No.
Non è questo.
Tu mi hai chiamato.
Io ho udito quella voce – la tua voce – che mi chiamava.
La tua voce, che strisciando nel vento e correndo tra la pioggia, mi ha raggiunto.
Mi hai chiamato, ed io ho udito la tua voce.
Ecco perché ho aperto quella finestra. L’ho spalancata verso l’esterno.
Ho esteso la mia mano alla tua ricerca. [...]
Ho aperto quella finestra perché potessi incontrarti.
È questa la verità su di noi, Nezumi.|

Nezumi è ferito. La distruzione del Penitenziario si sta rivelando una missione suicida. Potrebbero morire entrambi da un momento all’altro e non vedere mai la fine di No.6 che tanto avevano sognato.
Ma per Shion l’idea di morire, persino di andare all’inferno, non sembra poi così malvagia se al suo fianco avrà per sempre Nezumi.
Già, dovrei dirgli che Nezumi non è in grado di stare al fianco di nessuno, vero?
Più che altro lo ripeto a me stessa, sapendo che la fiducia di Shion in Rikiga e Inukashi è stata da sempre ben riposta e che nessuno di loro morirà, anche se la speranza di Shion di restare per sempre con Nezumi è destinata a fallire miseramente.

Uscire dal Penitenziario, scappare dal fuoco, dalla distruzione e rifugiarsi nell’unico posto da cui tutti erano fuggiti, la città Santa, sembra l’unica via di salvezza per Nezumi, sanguinante e privo di sensi.
Shion, di solito incerto e guidato dall’esperienza di Nezumi, in questo frangente prende la situazione in mano: aveva giurato di proteggere Nezumi a ogni costo, e niente avrebbe potuto fermarlo.

Ai margini di Lost Town c’era una clinica, il cui dottore era solito comprare il pane di Karan. Lui conosceva Shion e l’aver perso il fratello ad opera di No.6 è la fortuna di Nezumi.
Quella notte di tempesta, Shion aveva salvato Nezumi e in questa notte infuocata, l’aveva salvato di nuovo.

|Quella notte di tempesta, hai aperto la finestra e mi hai accolto.
Un vero miracolo. Per me, sei stato un miracolo molto più di quanto la Dea della Foresta sia mai stata. Mi sentii come se mi fosse detto di vivere di sopravvivere, di non arrendermi…se tu non fossi stato lì, io non sarei riuscito a sopravvivere quella notte.
Shion, tu, solo tu, sei stato l’unico che mi ha salvato.|

E’ questo il momento in cui scopriamo tutta la verità su Nezumi e sulla storia della sua gente, il Popolo della Foresta, il popolo dei Cantori, e cosa Rue aveva fatto rivelando a Fennec e ai suoi colleghi i segreti di Elyurias, la divinità della natura, questo possiamo pensare che alla fine fosse l’entità che No.6 voleva imbrigliare e comandare a suo piacimento.

Era così semplice arrivarci! Gli uomini con il loro egoismo e la loro presunzione di essere al centro del mondo avevano preteso di asservire la natura e piegarla per i propri scopi, distruggendo gli unici in grado di mediare tra la dissennatezza umana e la forza distruttrice dell’universo, i Cantori.

Era questo che Nezumi faceva quando cantava: riportava la pace e l’equilibrio tra i cuori degli uomini e la potenza del creato.
Ed ecco che ogni parola del canto di Nezumi trova la sua spiegazione.
Ecco cosa significavano quei versi, i versi che calmavano un moribondo, il pianto di un bambino, la gente terrorizzata.

|Il vento porta via le anime, gli uomini rubano i cuori
  O terra, vento e pioggia;
O cieli, O luce
  Lascia che tutto resti qui
  Lascia che tutto resti qui, e
  Viva in questo luogo
  O anima, mio cuore, O amore, miei veri sentimenti
  Tornate qui, a casa
  E qui restate
  Il vento porta via le anime, gli uomini rubano i cuori
  Ma io resterò qui
  E continuerò a cantare
  Ti prego
  Accompagna la mia canzone
  Ti prego
  Accetta la mia canzone|

Nel frattempo No.6 è nel caos. I cittadini credono alle parole di Yoming e circondano il Moon Drop con l’intenzione di sollevarsi.
Nell’ufficio del sindaco, Fennec e il dottore discutono il da farsi: sedare nel sangue la rivolta, così da mantenere intatta la natura di No.6, giustizia e perfezione, oppure arrendersi all’evidenza che quell’idillio utopico si era frantumato in mille pezzi.
La voce di Shion si fa sentire tra la folla: è lui ad aprire la strada a Nezumi.

|“Elyurias, ascolta la nostra supplica. Credi in noi, solo una volta.”
  “E’ questo che desideri per te, Cantore?"
 Nezumi fece un piccolo cenno col capo.
  "Quale appartenente al Popolo della Foresta, crederai nei residenti di No. 6?"
 "Non avrò fiducia nella gente di No. 6. L’unico in cui credo è lui. No, non è questo. Non è che io creda in lui, è che –"
  “Che?”
 "Voglio vedere ciò che Shion diventerà. Voglio vedere a cosa darà luce dalle rovine
di No. 6. Voglio vedere con i miei occhi cosa creerà."|

Il desiderio di Nezumi sarà accolto. Lui, l’ultimo discendente del Popolo della Foresta, massacrato dalla grettezza e dalla megalomania umana, aveva cantato per riconciliare gli uomini e la Natura, solo perché un ragazzo lo aveva salvato e lo aveva costretto a credere di nuovo nell’umanità.

No, non nell’umanità. In Shion. Perchè solo di lui Nezumi si fidava.

Shion, quel mistero che la mente di Nezumi non riusciva a comprendere e che lo terrorizzava al punto che il pensiero di perderlo rischiava di distruggerlo.
Shion, l’unico a cui Nezumi possa lasciare quel che resta di No.6, affinché non ci sia mai più un’altra Città Santa.
Shion, colui che afferra il braccio di Nezumi e lo implora di non lasciarlo, perché la sua vita senza di lui non significa niente.

Come ho già detto, conoscevo già il finale di No.6.
Anche se sono convinta che doveva per forza finire così, perché Nezumi è così e se si fosse comportato diversamente l’autrice avrebbe snaturato il personaggio, tuttavia questo non mi ha impedito di soffrire terribilmente.

Sono molto legata a questi due personaggi e a questa storia, una distopia giocata sulla conoscenza di due anime opposte e complementari che hanno trovato l’uno nell’altro la propria salvezza.
Ultima nota che mi sento di segnalare: ascoltate il canto di Nezumi, Kaze no Requiem,
interpretato da Yoshimasa Hosoya che è proprio il seiyuu di Nezumi.
E’ meraviglioso.

[Jeannette López · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinceramente estoy sin palabras, pero trataré de armar algo, después de todo es la última novela.

Hasta la novela anterior estaba muy alterada. Las novelas finales me tuvieron muy atrapada, era todo muy dramático y creo que el final es maravilloso. Ciertamente me habría encantado que Shion y Nezumi se quedaran juntos (¿alguien opina lo contrario? sinceramente no lo creo), me duele que se separen porque el amor entre ellos es enorme y verdadero a pesar de todo, aún así el final es perfecto. Creo que haber terminado la historia de otra manera la habría matado, el problema con este final abierto es que quedo con ganas de más y muchas dudas, quiero saber qué pasará después... si fue posible reencontrarse o no...(ciertamente que si) necesito una confirmación.

Logró emocionarme mucho, más de un lagrimón se me arrancó mientras leía :(!!!

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nezumi, the world means nothing to me without you. Nothing."

A finger hooked on his chin, and yanked it upwards.

A set of dark grey eyes were right in front of him.

"Won't you listen, my stubborn child? Act your age." It was a woman's voice, softened with laughter.

"Nezumi, I'm serious...."

Their lips overlapped. It was a searing, but gentle, passionate kiss.

"Was that a... goodbye?"

"A vow." Nezumi smiles. "Reunion will come, shion."



I'm gonna miss my boys... :((

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

¿Qué tiene No.6 que sabe justo donde golpearme?

¿Qué?

¡¿QUÉ?!

Estoy mentalmente perturbada, lo suficiente como para no escribir una opinión decente; sólo diré que los AMO, pero los odio, PERO LOS AMO.

[Claudia Noemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casi lloro con esa despedida. Nezumi, volverás a entrar por esa ventana algún día, ¿verdad?

Una historia grandiosa, directo a mi lista de favoritos.

No quería que se terminara, fue de esos libros dolorosos de acabar.

Pero el reencuentro se dará, tenlo por seguro.

[sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'm torn to pieces. thanks.

[Yukiko]

NO.6が崩壊した跡にネズミと紫苑が力を合わせて「人間らしい街」を創っていくのだろうと思っていたので意外な結末でした。理想も、それを実現する方法も人によって異なりますが、間違えた時には人は何度でもやり直せると信じたいです。

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Won't you listen, my stubborn child? Act your age"

[Mehow Pazdan]

Przeruchało mnie to zakończenie, za szybka akcka końcowa IMO ale jestem subiektywna więc 5 na 5 😛😛😛

[Laura Chazarín · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lloré mucho, amodio a Nezumi <3

[百牡丹 · Rating 3 out of 5]

(รวบยอดเก้าเล่มไว้ในรีวิวอันเดียวเลย)

ในคืนนั้นที่พายุโหมกระหน่ำเสียงฝนซาซัด เสียงตะโกนกู่ร้องพร้อมกับบานหน้าต่างที่เปิดอ้ากว้างราวกับรอรับใครสักคนเข้ามา และก็มีใครบางคนเข้ามาจริงๆ เป็นครั้งแรกที่ชิอนได้เจอกับเนซึมิ เด็กชายที่อายุไล่เลี่ยกันกับเขา แต่สิ่งอื่นต่างกันราวฟ้ากับเหว เนซึมิบาดเจ็บและถูกตามไล่ล่า เป็นนักโทษหลบหนี ส่วนชิอนเป็นพลเมืองในโครนอสที่เพียบพร้อมทุกอย่าง แต่เขาก็ยังคงช่วยเหลือเนซึมิไว้อย่างไม่ลังเลแม้จะรู้ว่าหมายความว่าอย่างไรกับการให้ความช่วยเหลือนักโทษหลบหนี

เซ็ตติ้งของ NO. 6 มีความน่าสนใจของมัน เมืองในอุดมคติที่ทุกคนอยู่อย่างมีความสุข ไม่มีอาชญากรรม รัฐบาลไม่มีกองกำลังทหารปราบปรามประชาชน แต่ตอนอ่านแล้วเราไม่เชื่อสิ่งที่เราอ่านเลยแม้แต่น้อย เพราะการสร้างความเชื่อเรื่องเมืองอุดมคตินี้ไม่ได้เริ่มต้นที่การสร้างภาพจำแบบนั้น มันมาเริ่มตอนที่ความเชื่อนั้นเริ่มพังทลายลงมาแล้วจากมุมมองของชิอน เรื่อยมาจนเนซึมิเริ่มเปิดเผยความจริงกับชิอน ไล่ยาวไปจนถึงการเกิดเมืองว่าเกิดมาจากความเลวร้าย มันทำให้สิ่งที่ผู้เขียนบอกไว้ตอนต้นว่าเป็นเมืองอุดมคติ หรือพยายามทำให้ชาวเมืองดูไว้ใจกับเมืองนี้มากโดยไม่ตั้งคำถามดูเป็นความพยายามข้างเดียว การปูถึงว่าทำไมมันถึงเป็นเมืองอุดมคติมากกว่าแค่การบรรยายออกมาเป็นคำพูดมันยังไม่มี ทำให้มันไม่ต่างอะไรจากการเล่าปากเปล่าเลย สิ่งนี้เป็นสิ่งที่ทำให้เราเสียดายเซ็ตติ้งของเมืองอุดมคตินี้มาก แต่คิดว่าเรื่องก็ไม่ได้เน้นเมืองสักเท่าไหร่ แต่เน้นความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างตัวละครมากกว่า ถึงกระนั้นก็เถอะในเมื่อความเป็นเมืองอุดมคติดก็มีความยึดโยงหรือจุดที่ทำให้มีข้อขัดแย้งระหว่างตัวะละครก็ควรจะแสดงให้เห็นหน่อยว่าทำไมเมืองนี้ถึงเป็นเมืองที่ดีนัก

ตัวละครหลักๆ แต่ละตัวมีคาร์แรกเตอร์ชัดเจน อย่างชิอนก็มีความชัดเจนในความคิดและจุดเป้าหมายของตัวเองมากมาตั้งแต่ต้น แม้จะมีการเปลี่ยนทัศนคติกับมุมมองการมอง NO. 6 ก็ไม่ได้ทำให้นิสัยที่เป็นแก่นนิสัยหลักของชิอนหายไปเลย มันแสดงให้เห็นพัฒนาการของตัวละครนี้มากขึ้น สิ่งที่ชอบที่สุดซึ่งอาจเป็นจุดเล็กๆ ของชิอนคือการที่ชิอนเป็นคนที่ยอมคนอื่น คิดถึงคนอื่นมากกว่าตัวเอง แต่อย่าให้ได้ปรี๊ดขึ้นมาก็จะหยุดไม่อยู่ อย่างตอนที่ออกโรงปกป้องเนซึมิ เป็นจุดเล็กๆ ที่ชอบส่วนตัวไม่ได้มีเหตุผลอะไรมาก ส่วนเนซึมิเป็นตัวละครที่เราแอบหมั่นไส้ เพราะเป็นตัวละครที่ขี้เก๊กจัด แต่ว่าก็ยังเอาใจช่วยในเรื่องต่างๆ อยู่ดี ทุกการกระทำทุกจุดประสงค์ที่อยากจะเห็น NO. 6 ล่มสลาย เราเข้าใจหมดเลย เพราะรู้ว่าเมืองนั้นทำอะไรบ้างก็ยิ่งทำให้เข้าใจเนซึมิ แต่เนซึมิก็จุดด้อยตรงที่ไม่ค่อยชอบสื่อสาร เม็ดเยอะ แล้วก็ไม่ค่อยฟังมุมมองคนอื่น ชัดเจนเลยก็ชิอน แต่พอผ่านไปนานๆ หลายๆ การกระทำของเนซึมิก็เปลี่ยนไปตามอิทธิพลของการมีชิอนอยู่ข้างๆ อย่างไม่ต้องบรรยายออกมาให้เห็น แต่สามารถสังเกตเองได้ ตัวละครหลักถือว่าสร้างตัวละครออกมาดีในระดับหนึ่งเลย ส่วนตัวละครอื่นก็รู้สึกได้ถึงความเป็นตัวละครประกอบชัดเจน ซึ่งความรู้สึกนี้มันแอบรบกวนเราตลอดการอ่าน เรื่องเรื่องหนึ่งสามารถมีตัวละครประกอบได้ แต่ก็เป็นหน้าที่ของผู้เขียนที่จะเขียนให้คนอ่านไม่รู้สึกมันมากจนเกินไป แต่เรื่องนี้เรารู้สึกได้หนักมากจนไม่คาดหวังว่าจะได้รู้เรื่องตัวละครอื่นเพิ่มหากมันไม่ได้สำคัญหรือเกี่ยวข้องกับเรื่อง การเสริมพื้นหลังของตัวละครอื่นโดยไม่จำเป็นต้องสำคัญกับเรื่องหรือตัวละครหลักสองตัว มันทำให้รู้สึกว่าตัวละครนี้มีอยู่จริง ไม่ใช่มีอยู่เพื่อแค่หมุนรอบตัวละครหลัก แต่ทุกตัวละครอื่นให้ความรู้สึกแบบนั้นหมดเลย

แต่สิ่งที่ชอบที่สุดและเห็นน้อยมากแม้จะในยุคนี้ คือการเขียนตัวละครที่ให้ความรู้สึกว่าเป็นความสัมพันธ์แบบ platonic มองจากมุมของเราเลย เรามองว่าชิอนรักเนซึมิในแบบนั้น จากการพูดถึงเนซึมิในหลายๆ รอบว่ารู้สึกยังไงกับเขาบ้าง แต่ที่เรามองว่าชัดที่สุดก็คงเป็นประโยคที่บอกว่า รู้สึกว่ารัก ไม่ใช่มิตรภาพและทั้งการถวิลหา ไม่ใช่ทั้งการตกหลุมรักหรือการรักและเคารพ แค่รู้สึกว่ารัก ตอนอ่านประโยคนี้รู้สึกว่านี่มันบรรยายความรู้สึกรักแบบ platonic ได้ใกล้เคียงที่สุดแล้วที่เคยเจอมาในการอ่านหนังสือหรือแม้แต่ดูหนัง แม้กระทั่งในสื่อไหนๆ ที่เคยเห็นมา เป็นประโยคที่ชอบมากจริงๆ แต่สิ่งที่คิ้วขมวดตลอดเวลาที่อ่านคือเนซึมิชอบต่อยชิอนมาก ส่วนชิอนก็ไม่ได้ว่าอะไร i assume it's just their kink, i guess?

[dukeofdelirium · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Where do people stray off the path? When do they begin to obey their greed rather than their ideals? Or are ideals just prone to morphing easily into greed? If so, then the same thing will happen in the future. Even if No. 6 were to fall, a second, a third Holy City would be born. Where did we go wrong? Are human beings capable of creating a country without going astray?”

Nahhhhh this IS the series for me. I have loved no.6 for its social commentary, its exploration of government oppression, its dystopian themes, its horror, and its incredible writing from Atsuko Asano for well over a decade.

Not only is No.6 a very thought provoking story in all regards, but its characters are so damn memorable. Nezumi, an indigenous character and the exploration of eugenics and wiping out indigenous culture/population for the sake of so called advanced “progress”, the exploration of ignorance from the citizens of No.6 and what their government is responsible for, and also a very touching sort of romance between two teenage boys at the center of the entire story. It’s just so well done. I love it so much!

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know this volume is one of the highest rated in this series. At the time of writing this review, the only reason it's not the highest is because it's tied with volume 7 which was amazing. However, this was my least favorite. The ending felt very cobbled together and rushed like the author had written herself into a corner. Admittedly I saw it coming in previous volumes so the impact might have been worse for me because I was specifically looking for it to happen, but that doesn't mean it's not on the page.

That being said, it was not a terrible ending for our boys. We went on one heck of a journey with this series, people.

[erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

this entire story could have been edited to fit into a single, larger volume. some of the books in this series were so slow and poorly paced that reading them felt agonizing (atsuko asano just has A Thing for interrupting action scenes with thoughts that the characters are having, and for adding random pov chapters that aren't needed). this last entry was pleasant to read and answered some questions i had, but it felt rushed. all in all though i'm happy i took the time to read this series since the anime is very dear to my heart, and thank you again to the people over at Nostalgia on 9th avenue (https://9th-ave.blogspot.com/p/no-6.h...) for translating it!