Another older reread for me and though this series isn't something I would normally pick up, I still find it somewhat enjoyable, though maybe that's just nostalgia.
This volume isn't my favorite. I really am not sold on the romance of the couple in this volume, I think I remember it getting marginally better? The art isn't my preference, but I do think there are a couple pretty panels in here.
Aww...I'm still loving this. The artwork doesn't bother me as much this time around since I'm getting used to the lines on the face. Also, thank god for Takeru's hair looking good this time around. I know it sounds shallow, but oh my god, when he spikes his hair up it is downright fugly. Plus, I like Takeru and Kayano together! The scene where he asked her if she was jealous was really cute. Even though I like reading the drama, I kept shouting at the book to have them get together already. When Takeru stuck up for Rika over Kayano, I got so angry! Kayano honestly likes Takeru, but he's believing Rika over her. Then, they said all these mean things that made me go 'NOOO!!'.
I must say that I hate Rika. She legit has mental problems. What an unhealthy obsession she has with Takeru! I can't believe that she'd go so far to get his attention. There is no guy I like enough that I'd pay people to beat me up, JUST so he could save me. The only one worse than Rika is Youhei. Holy shit! I can't believe that he . He seemed like a nice guy in the first volume, but in this one, I really disliked him.
I read this one because I was interested enough in the story to try to give it a fair shake. What is up with what's his face's "nice guy" act? That isn't an act at all! Calling someone "low-class" and isolating a girl in a closet while threatening them isn't nice. What is awesome about all of this is when Kayano calls him out on it, and everyone thinks she is at fault. He didn't even come onto her in an endearing way. 'Oh, there you are!' 'Let me get that on the top shelf.' 'Wow, your hair smells nice, and look how close our faces are.' lalalalalala (yeah, I can write bad romance too.) Now, how he did it: corners her and says 'there are limits to being a nice guy.' Yeah, might as well of said 'I'm a perv, and there are no nice intentions behind this smile.'
It seems I have a different definition of jerk than Takanashi does.
Rika is such a *****! I tried to empathize with her as it is obvious she has mental issues but she is very aware of what she does so I just can't. And Takeru's friend. At first I liked him and found him supportive but now.... HMMM.... Honestly while I enjoyed this volume I just felt frustrated through most of it. And a bit annoyed at a lot of characters. What does Kayano see to Takeru?! Looks aren't everything girl! A few cute scenes still were able to make me smile and kept this light.
I though the first volume was okay but this one was just bad. The story doesn't make much sense to me, there isn't a real plot, the romance is awful and way too rushed. And to top it all I hate the art. I won't be continuing the series.
Non so se questa recensione sia più un giudizio sul manga… o sul mio ricordo. Circa dieci anni fa vidi la trasposizione taiwanese “Devil Beside You” con Mike He e Rainie Yang, e me ne innamorai PERDUTAMENTE. Della storia, dei personaggi, della loro chimica, di loro due come coppia. Lei dolce, pura, simpatica e un po’ maldestra. Lui teppista, sexy, cupo ma carismatico, completamente ossessionato da lei. Tensione, contatto fisico, sguardi, una chimica che bucava lo schermo. Forse è proprio per questo che il manga mi ha lasciata un po’ spiazzata.Perché qui mi sono ritrovata a chiedermi continuamente: ma perché Sayoko sta con Takeru? Cosa le dà davvero? Cosa le comunica? Nel drama la loro attrazione era evidente, quasi magnetica. Nel manga invece Takeru sembra interessato a lei una volta ogni tre capitoli. C’è pochissimo contatto fisico, poche conversazioni profonde, pochi momenti di vera intimità. Lui è apatico, distante, spesso semplicemente… lì. Raramente serio con lei, raramente dichiaratamente coinvolto. La prende in giro, la provoca per ottenere una sua reazione, ma raramente mostra quel lato innamorato che ti aspetteresti. E Sayoko fa di tutto per lui, piange, rincorre, cerca di sistemare le cose. E qui arriviamo al punto dolente: nei primi sei volumi c’è praticamente solo drama. Litigi, incomprensioni, fraintendimenti, qualcuno che si mette in mezzo, lei che scappa piangendo, si dà la colpa (spesso inutilmente solo per giustificare i suoi comportamenti da stronzo viziato arrogante) e poi corre a fare pace. E il ciclo si ripete. Manca una vera evoluzione emotiva. Manca quella crescita che ti fa dire “ok, adesso sono effettivamente maturati”. Anche perché la profondità dei personaggi c’è ed è forse la cosa più bella dell’opera. Nessuno è davvero cattivo, tutti hanno motivazioni, ferite, fragilità. È interessante ed è umano. Ma raccontare il passato o le motivazioni per cui qualcosa accade NON BASTA se poi non si vede un cambiamento reale nel presente. E Sayoko… la sua sensibilità è tenera, ma a volte sembra ridursi al piangere per qualsiasi cosa. Avrei voluto vederla più forte, più consapevole, anche a costo di fare la “preziosa”. E Takeru… meno stronzo, meno indifferente, più emotivamente presente. Detto questo, non è un brutto manga, anzi, è una lettura piacevole, scorrevole, divertente in molti momenti. Alcuni personaggi secondari sono MERAVIGLIOSI, ho adorato il padre di Takeru (protagonista indiscusso) e le amiche di Sayoko (Haru e Nacchan + Kamijo). E l’idea di base resta carina, con dinamiche familiari e scolastiche che funzionano bene. Ma mi è mancato davvero troppo il romanticismo. Troppo poco sentimento visibile, troppi pochi momenti trascorsi insieme, troppo poco “noi due contro il mondo”. Tante parole (da parte di lei), tanto egoismo (da parte di lui), pochi fatti. Forse il problema è che il drama ha alzato l’asticella nella mia testa e il manga non è riuscito a raggiungerla. Nel complesso è carino, coinvolgente a tratti, ma non folgorante come lo ricordavo! ❤️
The second volume wasn't as good as the first one in my opinion. Although there was a lot of interesting development in this volume, it didn't completely hold my attention. It got better halfway through the story. We learn a little more about Yohei and Rika - about their love interests, and how far they will go for the person they love. I notice there's a common idea being stated so far in this manga series, "You don't know what I'm like or what I feel!" This statement pretty much sums up how people perceive Takeru, but what's interesting is that it's not only Takeru who has two sides of the same coin but all the other characters that are presented in the story as well. I liked how at the end, Takeru tries to make Kayano confess how she feels about him and the way she confessed was so cute but also funny.
Confessing to the person you like is never easy, having the attention seeking Edogawa Tekeru know who you like is even worse. Kayano thought high school was going to be hard enough but take on running errands for Takeru and it is almost unbearable especially when their parents are getting married and they have to move in with one another.
I loved the storyline development and growth of the characters. This is a series that I was really excited about reading. The romance does not start at the beginning but it grows stronger because of everything the couple has to overcome and go through. Kayano is a lovable personality and even though most people do not like Takeru in the beginning, he grows on you too.
Note: This review was completed after reading volumes 1-11.